Overview
Agnosia results from damage to parts of the brain that process sensory information. A person can see, hear or feel normally but cannot make sense of what they perceive.
Symptoms
- Difficulty recognising familiar objects by sight
- Difficulty recognising faces, even of family (prosopagnosia)
- Difficulty recognising sounds or objects by touch
Causes and risk factors
Common causes are stroke, head injury, brain infections, brain tumours and dementia.
Diagnosis
A neurologist assesses recognition with specific tests. Brain imaging such as MRI looks for the underlying cause.
Treatment
There is no direct cure. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and on rehabilitation strategies, such as using other senses and memory aids to compensate.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you or a family member suddenly or gradually lose the ability to recognise familiar objects or people. Seek emergency care if it starts suddenly with other stroke signs.
This information is for general education and does not replace advice from a qualified doctor. For a medical emergency, call +92-51-8446666 or go to the nearest emergency department.
