Apraxia

Question 1

Apraxia

Answer 1

Difficulty with planning and sequencing movements in everyday activities.

This difficulty is not due to weakness, sensory loss, incoordination or receptive aphasia although these may be present

Question 2

Ideomotor apraxia

Answer 2

Associated with damage to the parietal and frontal cortex, the basal ganglia and the white matter connections between these areas

Is the inability to perform purposeful movement on external command even though the concept of the task is fully understood

Question 3

Ideational apraxia

Answer 3

Seen in patients with extensive left hemisphere damage.

Inability to perform an activity consisting of a complex series of actions, either automatically or on command. There is a failure to comprehend, develop or retain the concept of what is required

Question 4

Multi-infarct apraxia

Answer 4

Due to multiple small cerebral lesions

Difficulty with initiation of activities and controlling centre of mass

Question 5

Ignition apraxia

Answer 5

Effect of gait

Difficulty with initiation of walking, shuffling, difficulty with turns, freezing of gait

Question 6

Equilibrium apraxia

Answer 6

Falls, reduced balance, difficulty with externally cued movement and no improvement with external cues

Question 7

Management of apraxia and guidelines

Answer 7

• Whole task practice
• Emphasise intact systems to aid communication
• Visual cues
• Simple instructions
• Obstacle courses are good

Guidelines
-Weak recommendation for stroke survivors with limb apraxia, interventions such as gesture training, strategy training and/or errorless learning may be provided