Ideomotor apraxia

Ideomotor apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to correctly imitate hand gestures and voluntarily mime tool use, e.g. pretend to brush one's hair. This is not due to a loss of motor skills or comprehension, but rather a loss of the ability to perform tasks that require a sequence of movements.

Causes

Ideomotor apraxia is usually caused by lesions in the left hemisphere of the brain, particularly in the parietal lobe. It can also be associated with various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.

Symptoms

The main symptom of ideomotor apraxia is the inability to carry out a command to perform a task, even though the person understands the command and has the physical ability to perform the task. Other symptoms may include difficulty coordinating hand and finger movements, difficulty manipulating objects, and difficulty performing tasks that require a sequence of movements.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ideomotor apraxia is usually based on a clinical examination and the patient's medical history. The doctor may ask the patient to perform certain tasks, such as pretending to brush their hair or wave goodbye. If the patient is unable to perform these tasks, they may be diagnosed with ideomotor apraxia.

Treatment

Treatment for ideomotor apraxia usually involves occupational therapy to help improve the patient's motor skills and ability to perform daily tasks. In some cases, speech therapy may also be beneficial.

See also

• Apraxia
• Neurological disorder
• Occupational therapy

Ideomotor apraxia Resources
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