According to Tilikete & Robert (2019), oculomotor apraxia (OMA) is a deficiency involuntary, lateral, horizontal, fast eye motions (saccades) with retention of slow pursuit motions. Therefore, the inability to visually follow peripheral objects is compensated through the movement of the head. However, vertical movements of the eyes are unaffected. Besides, there may be impaired cancellation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (Tilikete & Robert, 2019). The source of the condition is in the brain. However, the etiology of the condition is not well understood; however, it is attributed to neurologic issues that take place during early infancy until the first six months of life. The frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain where a multifaceted, 3D representation of previously learned movements and patterns are stored is usually most affected (Tilikete & Robert, 2019). Hence, an individual is incapable of retrieve models of the learned movement skills. For OMA, MRI imaging is used to image the brain when evaluating OMA.
The primary symptom of OMA is the incapacity to carry out movements in the absence of existing physical paralysis (Moreira & Koenig, 2018). The commands to initiate movements are understood; however, they cannot be executed. In the event movement has been initiated, it is often very careless, inappropriate, uncontrolled, and may happen unintentionally. Oculomotor apraxia may be accompanied Aphasia, which is the inability to use or understand words. The routine activities of patients with OMA are usually profoundly affected (Moreira & Koenig, 2018). For example, patients with OMA are unable to carry out simple tasks such as tying shoelaces or button their shirts. Individuals that have both Aphasia and apraxia are almost invariably dependent on assistance from others and are unable to work on their own. Patients with OMA are also unable to engage in activities such as driving, while some have disrupted sleep patterns.
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According to Tilikete & Robert (2019), oculomotor apraxia has no specific treatment. When OMA is a symptom of an existing disorder, the condition or disease must be treated. For stroke and head trauma patients, occupational and physical therapy may be beneficial. Parents of children with OMA must be aware of the developmental delays associated with the condition, and early forms of therapies must be arranged for the children (Tilikete & Robert, 2019). In some scenarios, children with OMA may learn to recompense for deficits as they grow older with the assistance of special physical and educational therapy programs. For example, children with developmental apraxia of speech may be provided with speech therapy and education. Based on the symptoms discussed above, if I had the condition on of the major disadvantage I would experience is the inability to drive. I depend on driving when going for different errands or when going for road trips. Hence, having the condition will greatly affect my social life.
References
Moreira, M. C., & Koenig, M. (2018). Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2. In GeneReviews®[Internet] . University of Washington, Seattle.
Tilikete, C., & Robert, M. P. (2019). Ocular Motor Apraxia. In Advances in Translational Neuroscience of Eye Movement Disorders (pp. 451-470). Springer, Cham.
