The effect of using the dominant or nondominant hand on performance of the Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery

Abstract

The Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB) claims to be a standardized and validated test of visual perception. However, the published evidence suggests that several areas have not been considered by the authors of the test. One of these is whether the dominant or nondominant hand is used, particularly for those aspects of the test which require either pencil skills or the fine manipulation of objects. The purpose of this study was to conduct subtests of the RPAB on a group drawn from a nonclinical population to determine whether or not there are differences in performance between the dominant and nondominant hand. The study involved 35 first year university students who were right-hand dominant for writing. Each subject completed the four subtests twice, once with the right hand and once with the left. Statistically significant differences were found between right and left hand performance in both the score achieved and the time taken for right left copying shapes (RLCS) and right left copying words (RLCW), tests 11 and 12, and for time alone in cancellation (CA), test 15. No significant differences were found in 3D copying (test 13). Test 12 is of particular concern, as 24 subjects failed this test when using their nondominant hand. These findings have implications for the interpretation of test results when the RPAB is administered to stroke patients who, due to the nature and site of their lesions, may be forced to use the nondominant hand.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Whiting S. , Lincoln NB, Bhavnani G, Cockburn J. The Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery. Windsor: NFER-Nelson, 1985.

Wilson B. The measurement of perceptual impairment. Clinical Rehabilitation 1987; 1: 169-73.

Cockburn J. , Bhavnani G. , Whiting S. , Lincoln NB Normal performance on some tests of perception in adults. Br J Occup Ther 1982; 45(2): 67-68.

Lincoln NB , Clarke D. The Performance of Normal Elderly People on the Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery. Br J Occup Ther 1987; 50(5): 156-57.

Lincoln NB , Whiting SE , Cockburn J. , Bhavnani G. An evaluation of perceptual retraining. Int Rehabil Med 1985; 7: 99-101.

Edmans JA , Lincoln NB The frequency of perceptual deficits after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation 1987; 1: 273-81.

Bell E. , Jurek K. , Wilson T. Hand Skill Measurement: A Gauge for Treatment. Am J Occup Ther 1976; 30(2): 80-86.

Arena R. , Gainotti G. Constructional apraxia and visuoperceptive disabilities in relation to laterality of cerebral lesions. Cortex 1978; 14: 463-73.