Assessing Developmental Gerstmann's Syndrome in an adult: a case report

Developmental Gerstmann's Syndrome (DGS) is a proposed neurological disorder characterized by finger agnosia, acalculia, right-left disorientation, agraphia, and in some cases, constructional dyspraxia. Case studies of DGS are limited, particularly those reporting on assessments in adults. The present case study demonstrates the presence of DGS symptoms in a young female adult with an autoimmune disorder but no clear history of neurological damage.

This client sought academic accommodations for her undergraduate math classes. She was administered a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, during which she demonstrated difficulties with mathematical concepts, right-left disorientation, inverted writing, mild finger agnosia, andimpairments in fine motor abilities and visual motor coordination.

The client's symptoms were consistent with DGS, though variability in her performance on assessments suggests compensatory strategies she may have developed throughout her life.

Our client demonstrated similarities with previously reported accounts of DGS as assessed in adults. This case proposes further evidence for DGS as a syndrome and presents challenges to assessing DGS in high-functioning adults. The case highlights a need for a standardized testing battery to assess DGS.