Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
A parietal lobe stroke is a type ofstrokethat occurs in the parietal lobe of the brain. This is the part of the brain responsible for receiving and processing sensory input such as touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. The parietal lobe enables spatial awareness (the awareness of your body in space) andproprioception(the ability to orient your body as it moves through space).
This article describes the range of symptoms that can occur with a parietal lobe stroke and the various factors that increase the risk. It also explains how strokes are diagnosed and treated and what to expect during rehabilitation and recovery.
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What Are the Symptoms of a Parietal Lobe Damage?
The parietal lobe itself is comprised of two lobes roughly the size of a fist. The left hemisphere is typically the dominant side and serves as the language center for most people. The right hemisphere tends to be non-dominant and is responsible for things like spatial processing andcognition(the ability to think, perceive, and reason).
Language Impairment
For most people, damage to the left hemisphere of the parietal lobe can causeaphasia(the loss of ability to understand or express speech) oralexia(the inability to read despite recognizing letters).
If damage extends to thetemporal lobe(located at the side of the brain), there may also be problems understanding language.
Damage extending to thefrontal lobemay interfere with speech planning, making it difficult to string together syllables or use complex words.
Loss of Spatial Awareness
Damage to the right hemisphere of the parietal lobe may result in the loss of spatial awareness on the opposite side of the body, also known as hemispatial neglect.
If this occurs, a person may have no awareness of what’s happening on the left side of a space. This can cause a person, for example, to shave or apply makeup to only the right side of the face and behave like the other side doesn’t exist. In some cases, a person may look at their left arm or leg and not even realize it is theirs.
Hemispatial neglect may affect up to 82% of people following a right hemisphere stroke in the earlyacute stages.
Vision Changes
Loss of Proprioception
After a parietal lobe stroke, a person’s proprioception may not function properly.When trying to walk, for example, they may have no idea where their left leg is in relation to the ground.
This can lead to “difficulty grading movement,” meaning a misjudgment in how much to flex or extend muscles during a movement.This can cause you to lose your ability to judge how heavy or light an object is, or how far you need to reach to grab it.
People with proprioception dysfunction tend to stomp their feet when walking and bump and crash into obstacles as they become less able to judge their movements in space.
Impairment of Executive Function
The parietal lobe interacts with the frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for executive function—the ability to think abstractly and make decisions based on analysis and learned behaviors.
With a parietal lobe stroke, the sensory input from the parietal lobe to the frontal lobe may be impaired, causingapraxia(the inability to perform movements on command). This can result in a loss of coordination or hesitancy of movement.
Gerstmann Syndrome
Causes and Risk Factors of Parietal Lobe Stroke
A parietal lobe stroke occurs when one or more of the blood vessels that supply the parietal lobe either bleeds or becomes blocked. The parietal lobe receives its blood from three sources: the middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral arteries.
The risk factors for a parietal lobe stroke are no different than those for other types of stroke. They include:
How Different Strokes Cause Different Symptoms
How Is a Parietal Lobe Stroke Diagnosed?
Things can move quickly when a stroke is suspected. In some cases, the symptoms will be overt, and you may be rushed for emergency imaging tests and other urgent evaluations. In other cases, the symptoms may be less characteristic and require a combination of tests to determine the cause.
Neurological Exam
If stroke is suspected, the healthcare provider will typically perform an in-officeneurological exam. The test evaluates your motor, cognitive, and visual responses to various stimuli to see if there are any abnormalities suggestive of a stroke.
The neurological exam is painless and can be performed with simple tools, including a penlight and a reflex hammer.
Diagnostic signs suggestive of a parietal lobe stroke include:
Tests and Labs
Other tests will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and characterize the type of stroke involved. These may include:
How Stroke Is Diagnosed
What Is the Treatment of a Parietal Lobe Stroke?
Depending on the type of stroke involved, a blood thinner calledtissue plasminogen activator (TPA)may be given to improve blood flow to the brain. Another blood thinner calledheparinmay be used in cases of ischemic stroke if a brain hemorrhage has been ruled out.
Blood pressure, blood glucose, fluids, and electrolytes will also be managed to give the brain the best chance for recovery.
Surgery
If there is a severe hemorrhagic stroke, a hematoma evacuation may be performed to surgically extract the pooling of blood in the brain (called ahematoma).
Rehabilitation and Recovery
In the aftermath of a stroke, most people will undergophysical therapyandoccupational therapyto help restore function and learn adaptive strategies to perform everyday tasks.
Given that impaired speech and language are common consequences of a parietal lobe stroke, intensive, ongoingspeech therapymay be advised.
Studies suggest that at least 90 hours of speech therapy may be needed to overcome aphasia and other speech pathologies; anything less than 45 hours may not be beneficial.
Challenge to RecoveryOne of the greatest challenges associated with a parietal lobe stroke is adherence to therapy. Because anosognosia is a common feature of this type of stroke, a person may believe they are absolutely fine and in no need of treatment.As a result, treatment dropout rates are high and assistance from caregivers is often needed to ensure therapies are adhered to.
Challenge to Recovery
One of the greatest challenges associated with a parietal lobe stroke is adherence to therapy. Because anosognosia is a common feature of this type of stroke, a person may believe they are absolutely fine and in no need of treatment.As a result, treatment dropout rates are high and assistance from caregivers is often needed to ensure therapies are adhered to.
One of the greatest challenges associated with a parietal lobe stroke is adherence to therapy. Because anosognosia is a common feature of this type of stroke, a person may believe they are absolutely fine and in no need of treatment.
As a result, treatment dropout rates are high and assistance from caregivers is often needed to ensure therapies are adhered to.
Home Physical Therapy After a Stroke
Coping and What to Expect After a Stroke
As part of the rehabilitation efforts, a mental health professional may be sought to address the psychological and psychiatric concerns alongside the physical ones.
Treatment may involve one-on-one or group counseling to better deal with grief, anger, and self-esteem issues, as well as any changes in personality or behavior. Support groups and family counseling can also be extremely beneficial.
Fatigue, a common and distressing facet of stroke recovery, tends to improve with a combination ofpsychotherapyandgraded exercise(in which exercise intensity and duration are gradually increased).
Antidepressants or central nervous system stimulants likeVyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)or Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) may also be used to boost mood and energy levels.
It can also be challenging to be a caregiver of someone who has had a parietal lobe stroke. The loved one may not only need constant monitoring to avoid falls and other injuries, but they may also be less aware of their surroundings and unable to fully participate in their rehabilitation.
Coping During Stroke Recovery
Summary
A parietal lobe stroke affects the part of the brain responsible for spatial awareness and language processing. A stroke in this part of the brain can cause problems with speech and language, difficulty with proprioception, a loss of spatial awareness, impairment of executive functioning, and visual disturbances.
The treatment of a parietal lobe stroke typically involves blood thinners to avoid further brain damage and possibly surgery to relieve pressure on the brain or stem cerebral bleeding. Recovery from a stroke almost invariably involves physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caggiano P, Jehkonen M.The ‘neglected’ personal neglect.Neuropsychol Rev. 2018;28(4):417-35. doi:10.1007/s11065-018-9394-4Pelton TA, Wing AM, Fraser D, van Vliet P.Differential effects of parietal and cerebellar stroke in response to object location perturbation.Front Hum Neurosci. 2015;9:293. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00293Etcharry-Bouyx F, Le Gall D, Jarry C, Osiurak F.Gestural apraxia.Rev Neurol.2017;173(7-8):430-439. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2017.07.005Li K, Malhotra PA.Spatial neglect.Pract Neurol. 2015;15(5):333-9. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001115Mutha PK, Stapp LH, Sainburg RL, Haaland KY.Motor adaptation deficits in ideomotor apraxia.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2017;23(2):139–149. doi:10.1017/S135561771600120XNational Organization of Rare Diseases.Gerstmann syndrome.Richards LG, Cramer SC.Advances in stroke: therapies targeting stroke recovery.Stroke. 2021;52(1):348-350. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033231Boehme AK, Esenwa C, Elkind MS.Stroke risk factors, genetics, and prevention.Circ Res. 2017;120(3):472-95. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398Musick S, Alberico N.Neurologic assessment of the neurocritical care patient,Front Neurol.2021;12:588989. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.588989Asplund K, Sukhova M, Wester P, Stegmayr B.Diagnostic procedures, treatments, and outcomes in stroke patients admitted to different types of hospitals.Stroke.2015;46(3):806-12. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007212Dostovic Z, Dostovic E, Smajlovic D, Ibrahimagic OC, Avdic L.Brain edema after ischaemic stroke.Med Arch. 2016;70(5):339-41. doi:10.5455/medarh.2016.70.339-341Katsuno Y, Ueki Y, Ito K, et al.Effects of a new speech support application on intensive speech therapy and changes in functional brain connectivity in patients with post-stroke aphasia.Front Hum Neurosci.2022;16:870733. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.870733Barrett AM.Spatial neglect and anosognosia after right brain stroke.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2021 Dec 1;27(6):1624–1645. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000001076Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for stroke.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caggiano P, Jehkonen M.The ‘neglected’ personal neglect.Neuropsychol Rev. 2018;28(4):417-35. doi:10.1007/s11065-018-9394-4Pelton TA, Wing AM, Fraser D, van Vliet P.Differential effects of parietal and cerebellar stroke in response to object location perturbation.Front Hum Neurosci. 2015;9:293. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00293Etcharry-Bouyx F, Le Gall D, Jarry C, Osiurak F.Gestural apraxia.Rev Neurol.2017;173(7-8):430-439. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2017.07.005Li K, Malhotra PA.Spatial neglect.Pract Neurol. 2015;15(5):333-9. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001115Mutha PK, Stapp LH, Sainburg RL, Haaland KY.Motor adaptation deficits in ideomotor apraxia.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2017;23(2):139–149. doi:10.1017/S135561771600120XNational Organization of Rare Diseases.Gerstmann syndrome.Richards LG, Cramer SC.Advances in stroke: therapies targeting stroke recovery.Stroke. 2021;52(1):348-350. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033231Boehme AK, Esenwa C, Elkind MS.Stroke risk factors, genetics, and prevention.Circ Res. 2017;120(3):472-95. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398Musick S, Alberico N.Neurologic assessment of the neurocritical care patient,Front Neurol.2021;12:588989. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.588989Asplund K, Sukhova M, Wester P, Stegmayr B.Diagnostic procedures, treatments, and outcomes in stroke patients admitted to different types of hospitals.Stroke.2015;46(3):806-12. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007212Dostovic Z, Dostovic E, Smajlovic D, Ibrahimagic OC, Avdic L.Brain edema after ischaemic stroke.Med Arch. 2016;70(5):339-41. doi:10.5455/medarh.2016.70.339-341Katsuno Y, Ueki Y, Ito K, et al.Effects of a new speech support application on intensive speech therapy and changes in functional brain connectivity in patients with post-stroke aphasia.Front Hum Neurosci.2022;16:870733. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.870733Barrett AM.Spatial neglect and anosognosia after right brain stroke.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2021 Dec 1;27(6):1624–1645. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000001076Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for stroke.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Caggiano P, Jehkonen M.The ‘neglected’ personal neglect.Neuropsychol Rev. 2018;28(4):417-35. doi:10.1007/s11065-018-9394-4Pelton TA, Wing AM, Fraser D, van Vliet P.Differential effects of parietal and cerebellar stroke in response to object location perturbation.Front Hum Neurosci. 2015;9:293. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00293Etcharry-Bouyx F, Le Gall D, Jarry C, Osiurak F.Gestural apraxia.Rev Neurol.2017;173(7-8):430-439. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2017.07.005Li K, Malhotra PA.Spatial neglect.Pract Neurol. 2015;15(5):333-9. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001115Mutha PK, Stapp LH, Sainburg RL, Haaland KY.Motor adaptation deficits in ideomotor apraxia.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2017;23(2):139–149. doi:10.1017/S135561771600120XNational Organization of Rare Diseases.Gerstmann syndrome.Richards LG, Cramer SC.Advances in stroke: therapies targeting stroke recovery.Stroke. 2021;52(1):348-350. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033231Boehme AK, Esenwa C, Elkind MS.Stroke risk factors, genetics, and prevention.Circ Res. 2017;120(3):472-95. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398Musick S, Alberico N.Neurologic assessment of the neurocritical care patient,Front Neurol.2021;12:588989. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.588989Asplund K, Sukhova M, Wester P, Stegmayr B.Diagnostic procedures, treatments, and outcomes in stroke patients admitted to different types of hospitals.Stroke.2015;46(3):806-12. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007212Dostovic Z, Dostovic E, Smajlovic D, Ibrahimagic OC, Avdic L.Brain edema after ischaemic stroke.Med Arch. 2016;70(5):339-41. doi:10.5455/medarh.2016.70.339-341Katsuno Y, Ueki Y, Ito K, et al.Effects of a new speech support application on intensive speech therapy and changes in functional brain connectivity in patients with post-stroke aphasia.Front Hum Neurosci.2022;16:870733. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.870733Barrett AM.Spatial neglect and anosognosia after right brain stroke.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2021 Dec 1;27(6):1624–1645. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000001076Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for stroke.
Caggiano P, Jehkonen M.The ‘neglected’ personal neglect.Neuropsychol Rev. 2018;28(4):417-35. doi:10.1007/s11065-018-9394-4
Pelton TA, Wing AM, Fraser D, van Vliet P.Differential effects of parietal and cerebellar stroke in response to object location perturbation.Front Hum Neurosci. 2015;9:293. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00293
Etcharry-Bouyx F, Le Gall D, Jarry C, Osiurak F.Gestural apraxia.Rev Neurol.2017;173(7-8):430-439. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2017.07.005
Li K, Malhotra PA.Spatial neglect.Pract Neurol. 2015;15(5):333-9. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001115
Mutha PK, Stapp LH, Sainburg RL, Haaland KY.Motor adaptation deficits in ideomotor apraxia.J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2017;23(2):139–149. doi:10.1017/S135561771600120X
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Gerstmann syndrome.
Richards LG, Cramer SC.Advances in stroke: therapies targeting stroke recovery.Stroke. 2021;52(1):348-350. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033231
Boehme AK, Esenwa C, Elkind MS.Stroke risk factors, genetics, and prevention.Circ Res. 2017;120(3):472-95. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398
Musick S, Alberico N.Neurologic assessment of the neurocritical care patient,Front Neurol.2021;12:588989. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.588989
Asplund K, Sukhova M, Wester P, Stegmayr B.Diagnostic procedures, treatments, and outcomes in stroke patients admitted to different types of hospitals.Stroke.2015;46(3):806-12. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007212
Dostovic Z, Dostovic E, Smajlovic D, Ibrahimagic OC, Avdic L.Brain edema after ischaemic stroke.Med Arch. 2016;70(5):339-41. doi:10.5455/medarh.2016.70.339-341
Katsuno Y, Ueki Y, Ito K, et al.Effects of a new speech support application on intensive speech therapy and changes in functional brain connectivity in patients with post-stroke aphasia.Front Hum Neurosci.2022;16:870733. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.870733
Barrett AM.Spatial neglect and anosognosia after right brain stroke.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2021 Dec 1;27(6):1624–1645. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000001076
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for stroke.
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