Spatial neglect after stroke: a source of misunderstanding between patients and carers

Spatial neglect, a frequent consequence of stroke, is one of the invisible disabilities. Affected patients may, for example, ignore an object in their field of vision (visual neglect), fail to use the contralesional arm (motor neglect), or try to stand up on their own despite a severe motor deficit (anosognosia). These behaviors can be detrimental to the care relationship if they are not understood by professionals.