A stroke (also called a a cerebral vascular accident) is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain or a rupture of blood vessels in the brain, which can cause brain cells to die. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, there are between 40,000 and 50,000 strokes in Canada each year, and about 16,000 Canadians die from stroke.
“A stroke refers to a condition where there has been a disruption of blood flow to the brain,” says Dr. Cirelle K. Rosenblatt, a neuropsychologist, clinical psychologist, and HealthChoicesFirst.com partner. “This can be as a result of a hemorrhage such as a bleed in the brain, or as the result of a blockage in the brain that can result from something such as a clot.”
After a Cerebral Vascular Accident
“When there is such a hemorrhage or a clot that interferes with blood flow to the brain or a bleed in the brain, there's a disruption to normal neurological function related to those areas,” says Rosenblatt. “That results in a number of different possible outcomes such as a disruption in motor function or even paralysis in specific areas, disruptions in speech or language, expressive or comprehensive or receptive. It also interferes with a person's cognitive function in multiple domains or their visual function.”
Watch our Effects of a Stroke video.
Neuropsychological Testing
Depending on the severity of the stroke, a person may make a full recovery, recover with a minor disability or impairment, a moderate to severe impairment, or they may be severely disabled.
“Once a person is medically stable following a stroke and there is no concern related to their medical status, it's a good idea to seek out the help of a neuropsychologist to definitively assess cognitive change related to the stroke,” says Rosenblatt. “That assessment would then serve as a basis for treatment planning for that person in terms of potential rehabilitation of those areas of cognitive change.”
If you would like more information on cerebral vascular accidents and neuropsychological testing, contact a neuropsychologist who is specifically trained in brain-behaviour relationships.
Complementary Content to What Is a Stroke?
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Neuropsychological testing is also used following a traumatic brain injury, which can range from mild to severe. A traumatic brain injury can have a great impact on a patient and his or her family, making neuropsychological assessments a valuable tool in the treatment process. Watch our brain injury videos for more information.