The Bender-Gestalt and the Halstead-Reitan battery: a case study

A single case with severe static left hemisphere cerebral damage was used to illustrate some deficiencies in the Bender-Gestalt (B-G) test and to compare its results with the Halstead-Reitan battery. The B-G did not indicate the existence of any brain damage because visuoconstructional tests evidently are related directly only to the right parietal area. The Halstead indicated the existance of brain damage, the amount of impairment to various mental functions, the location, process status, and general type of pathology and provided an evaluation of residual functions. Used as a screening test, the B-G is useful because it measures nondominant functions and is a "don't hold" test. The Halstead should be used when a more complete evaluation or critical test for brain damage is required.