Sensory impairments and the stroke population

Stroke affects more than 795,000 people a year in the United States and is a leading cause of disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Nearly half of the people who experience a stroke are left with sensory impairments. These impairments may include difficulty perceiving light touch, pressure, pain, limb position in space, and object recognition without visual feedback (Carey & Matyas, 2011; Carey et al., 2018). Unsurprisingly, such deficits decrease one’s ability to participate in everyday activities. Stroke survivors with sensory loss report difficulty with activities such as dressing themselves, using their hands to communicate, using utensils during meals, and manipulating objects (Carey et al., 2018; Serrada et al., 2019).