Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to Get Help
Aparietal lobe strokeis a type ofstrokethat occurs in the parietal lobe at the top of the middle area of the brain. The type and severity of parietal stroke symptoms are based largely on the location and size of the injury but can include impairment of speech, thought, coordination, and movement.
Like all strokes, a parietal lobe stroke involves either the rupture or blockage of a blood vessel in the brain. It’s the resulting lack of constant blood flow to the parietal lobe that deprives that area of adequate oxygen and causes cell death that impairs many sensory, visual, and/or language functions—sometimes permanently.
This article explains the signs and symptoms of a parietal lobe stroke. It also details the possible complications that can come from this type of stroke, along with when to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Laura Porter
The parietal lobe is one of four lobes of the cerebral cortex. This region of the brain processes information from your senses so that you can orient yourself in space, process language and math, coordinate movements, and differentiate objects.
What Are Common Symptoms of Parietal Lobe Stroke?
Where a stroke injury occurs—and how it impacts other parts of the brain—will ultimately determine the type and extent of symptoms experienced.
With aright-sided parietal lobe stroke, there may be:
With aleft-sided parietal lobe stroke, there may be:
Both right- and left-sided parietal lobe strokesmay also result in:
Types of Strokes
What Are Rare Symptoms of Parietal Lobe Stroke?
It is not uncommon for a stroke injury in the parietal lobe to extend to parts of the brain, such as the frontal lobe, temporal lobe (situated beneath the parietal lobe), or occipital lobe (situated toward the back of the cerebral cortex). It may also involve thebrainstemand cerebellum.
However, if the stroke injury is isolated in the parietal lobe, facial drooping and paralysis are far less common. While there may be arm or leg weakness, people with a parietal stroke don’t usually experience a total loss of limb function.
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
Gerstmann Syndrome
Apraxia
Other variations include ideomotor apraxia (inability to mimic a performed gesture), constructional apraxia (inability to copy a drawing), and eye-opening apraxia (inability to open one’s eyes on command).
What Are the Complications of Parietal Lobe Stroke?
The impact of a parietal lobe stroke can often be significant in the elderly, who may already be struggling with cognitive, sensory, and movement problems.
One common complication seen in older individuals with a parietal lobe stroke isdelirium(an abrupt change in the brain that causes confused thinking and reduced awareness of one’s surroundings).
When a parietal lobe stroke occurs in the right hemisphere, the loss of recognition of the left side of the world can be extremely confusing and contribute to the loss of organized thought. Without the means to compensate for these sensory impairments, a person may become increasingly confused, inattentive, and disjointed in their thinking.
According to a 2017 study in the journalStroke,people with a parietal lobe stroke are more than twice as likely to experience delirium compared to people with other types of stroke.
Heart Problems That Go Hand in Hand With Strokes
Outcomes and Expectations
The complications of a parietal stroke can vary based on the types and severity of symptoms involved.
However, unlike a frontal lobe stroke where limb paralysis is common, the loss of sensory function in a parietal lobe stroke usually allows for speedier recovery of motor skills under the care of aphysical therapistandoccupational therapist.
Speech and language impairment can be more difficult to overcome and typically requires ongoing and intensivespeech therapy.
Arguably, the greatest challenge is overcoming issues like hemispatial neglect or anosognosia, in which the stroke survivor is not even aware of their impairment.
Stroke Rehabilitation: What to Expect
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke can save your life or that of someone else. The American Stroke Association offers an easy-to-remember mnemonic (FAST) to help you know when it’s time to call for help.
FAST stands for:
If the first three were to occur, then you know it’s time to do the fourth and call 911. If you’re in doubt, take no chances and call for emergency services.
The signs of parietal lobe stroke can sometimes be less overt. It’s important, therefore, to look for other tell-tale signs, such as visual blurring, loss of peripheral vision, or a sudden loss of balance or coordination.
What Is a Silent Stroke?
Summary
Symptoms of a parietal lobe stroke injury depend on which part of the parietal lobe is injured. In general, this type of stroke can result in disorientation and loss of coordination, weakness and paresthesia, and problems with speech and memory. In some cases, these impairments are permanent. In others, they may be recovered with physical, speech, and/or occupational therapy.
Knowing what to do when a stroke occurs may save your life or someone else’s. Remember FAST (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, time to call emergency services), and don’t hesitate to take action at the first sign of stroke.
17 Sources
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