[Bálint's syndrome: seeing blind]

Bálint's syndrome consists of simultanagnosia, ocular apraxia and optical ataxia. Although various disorders may underlie this syndrome, the most frequent is Alzheimer's disease in its early stages. Because so few people are familiar with this syndrome the first reaction is often to attribute it to underlying problems that are primarily of a psychological nature. As a result treatment and support may be inadequate or given too late. The case study reported here concerns a female patient with Bálint's syndrome. The case is supported by comparable symptoms found in three other patients.