Multisensory Telerehabilitation for Visual Field Defects

Telerehabilitation for Visual Field Defects: Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Multisensory Therapy for Adults and Children With Acquired Brain Lesions

Brain injuries may cause the loss of the ability to see portions of the visual field, the so-called visual field defects (VFDs). VFDs significantly impact the survivors' functional recovery and quality of life, with the majority of patients displaying no spontaneous recovery or being left with residual deficits. Among the available therapies for VFDs, the compensatory scanning training is considered the most promising. Yet, current evidence is insufficient to recommend it in clinical practice, and the scientific community has stressed the need of more high-quality research. The present randomized clinical trial in patients with chronic VFDs caused by brain lesions aims at verifying the feasibility and efficacy of a novel telerehabilitation using a multisensory scanning therapy, by measuring its effects on visual functions and daily activities, and by looking for neural indicators of the therapy-induced improvements.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Acquired homonymous visual field defect (HVFDs) due stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumor, surgery for epilepsy in a chronic stage of illness (time from the lesion >6 months)
• Normal hearing
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity

Exclusion Criteria:

• cognitive decline (adults)
• intellectual disability (children)
• major neurological or psychiatric disease
• being enrolled in another therapy for HVFDs

not being enrolled in another VFDs therapy.