By means of a newly developed scale for visuospatial perception (VS score), we showed that the occupational therapy aimed at stimulating the visuospatial perception could improve VS score. Chronic postapoplectic patients (6.9±4.4 months after stroke) with decreased VS score (71.5±13) were classified into two groups; Control group consisting of 8 patients (56±10yrs) who received ordinary rehabilitation program for hemiplegia and OT group consisting of 16 patients (53±13yrs) who received occupational therapy such as block design, peg transfer, chopped figure arrangement, painting of line drawing and some manual works aimed at stimulating the visuospatial perception. Both groups were equally trained to be aware of visuospatial agnosia and to be habituated to the work at the preserved visual space. At the time of admission, the OT group and the Control group were roughly equivalent in terms of the age of the subjects, time after stroke, involved hemisperes, IQ's, motor and ADL scores, and VS scores, while in the Control group the number of males as well as incidence of subcortical lesions and of hemorrhage were greater and the therapy duration was longer as compared to the OT group.
At the time of discharge, OT group showed a significant increase in VS score (+14.7±4.3) whereas Control group showed no improvement (+2.5±2.4). Although the improvement of VS score in OT group was not affected by age, sex and duration after stroke, it was most remarkable in patients with subcortical lesions. Motor and ADL scores were significantly and similarly improved in both groups.
These results would suggest that the occupational therapy aimed at stimulating visuospatial perception is useful for improving visuospatial agnosia after stroke while the ordinary motor and ADL trainings do not improve visuospatial recognition.

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