The Psychiatric Technician is assisting the client recovering from a CVA to regain awareness of his paralyzed side. Which of the following actions should the Psychiatric Technician take?

The Psychiatric Technician is assisting the client recovering from a CVA to regain awareness of his paralyzed side. Which of the following actions should the Psychiatric Technician take?

• A. Provide painful stimuli to the affected area.
• B. Provide no stimuli to the area.
• C. Provide direct visual contact of the area via mirrors and grooming.
• D. Restrain the affected body part.

Answer: (C)

When a client has had a cerebrovascular accident, the paralyzed side can feel like it’s outside their awareness. Opening a pathway to see and attend to that limb through visual feedback helps reengage the brain’s representation of the body. Using a mirror so the client can directly view the affected area during grooming gives the brain visual input that this limb exists and can be observed and, with practice, moved or attended to. This simple, structured visual cue plus purposeful touch or grooming reinforces awareness of the paralyzed side and supports engagement in activities of daily living. Painful stimulation isn’t targeted to improve awareness and can cause distress; providing no stimuli misses a valuable sensory cue; restraining the limb is inappropriate and can hinder rehabilitation.

When a client has had a cerebrovascular accident, the paralyzed side can feel like it’s outside their awareness. Opening a pathway to see and attend to that limb through visual feedback helps reengage the brain’s representation of the body. Using a mirror so the client can directly view the affected area during grooming gives the brain visual input that this limb exists and can be observed and, with practice, moved or attended to. This simple, structured visual cue plus purposeful touch or grooming reinforces awareness of the paralyzed side and supports engagement in activities of daily living.

Painful stimulation isn’t targeted to improve awareness and can cause distress; providing no stimuli misses a valuable sensory cue; restraining the limb is inappropriate and can hinder rehabilitation.