Description apraxia
Апраксия – состояние, in which a person can not fulfill his known movements or gestures. The patient may apraxia, It has the desire and the physical ability to perform motion, but not. It, usually, It occurs because of brain damage, such as stroke or brain tumor. There are many types of apraxia. При наличии данного расстройства пациент может иметь афазию – расстройство речи.
Reasons apraxia
Apraxia is caused by diseases or damage to the cerebral hemispheres, such as:
- Stroke;
- Encephaloma;
- Traumatic Brain Injury;
- Infection;
- Degenerative brain disease, such as:
- Alzheimer's Disease;
- Skull-visochnaya dementia (syndrome, associated with the reduction in the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain);
- Huntington's Disease;
- Kortikobazalynaya ganglioznaya degeneration (DCC).
Risk factors
Since apraxia may be associated with stroke, it is important to know the risk factors for stroke, such as:
- Age: 60 and older;
- Having last stroke or cardiovascular disease;
- Having last transient ischemic attacks (TIA);
- High blood pressure;
- High cholesterol;
- Diabetes;
- Smoking;
- Dialysis (Artificial Kidney).
Symptoms of apraxia
Below is a list of some common forms of apraxia and their symptoms:
- Orofacial apraxia (general) – неспособность управлять движениями лица, eg, wink, svištět;
- Конструктивная апраксия – невозможность копировать или рисовать простые фигуры или строить двух-или трехмерные формы;
- Апраксия походки – характерные признаки – шаркающие шаги, stoop, sudden stop, inability to step over obstacles;
- Концептуальные апраксия – неспособность выбирать или использовать инструменты или объекты должным образом, inability to perform complex coordinated movements and to perform tasks;
- Кинетическая апраксия – неспособность выполнять точные движения руками или пальцами (eg, counting coins);
- Идеомоторная апраксия – невозможность копировать движения или делать жесты, failure to execute the command;
- Dressing apraxia – неспособность надеть на себя одежду.
Some people with apraksiej have difficulty with gait. This can lead to increased risk of falling.
Diagnosis of apraxia
The doctor asks about the symptoms and medical history, performs a physical exam. Tests may include the following:
- Neurological evaluation, to determine the type of apraxia. The doctor may ask:
- Perform some movement;
- Draw a shape;
- Gather simple construction;
- Lift or rotate coins;
- Take the tool (eg, hammer) and demonstrate, How to use it;
- Perform the action in sequencing;
- Muscle checking is performed, used in speech;
- Assessed skills walk;
- МРТ – тест, which uses magnetic waves, to make pictures of structures inside the brain;
- Компьютерная томография – рентгеновское обследование, which uses computer, to make pictures of the brain.
Apraxia treatment
The course of treatment depends on the type of apraxia patients. Usually the doctor prescribes individual treatment program, which may include the following procedures:
- Physiotherapy;
- Occupational therapy;
- Speech Therapy;
- Cognitive rehabilitation.
It is also important to treatment of the underlying cause of apraxia.
Home care for a sick apraksiej
For stays with a person, who have apraxia, some health care providers may offer support:
- Сиделка – чтобы помочь организовать постоянный уход за больным или амбулаторное лечение;
- A social worker can help you determine the necessary resources for patients and their families;
- Психолог – для консультации членов семьи по уходу и общению с больным апраксией.
Prevention of apraxia
Prevent apraksiû pretty hard. As it is closely linked to stroke, You must perform the following steps, to prevent stroke:
- Exercise regularly;
- Eat healthy food;
- You need to quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption;
- Regularly check your blood pressure.