During a sensory evaluation of an individual with right hemiplegia, what should the therapist use for identifying responses in stereognosis testing?

In stereognosis testing, the goal is to assess an individual's ability to recognize objects by touch alone, without visual input. Using a set of identical objects provides a controlled environment for the assessment. This consistency allows the therapist to focus on the individual's tactile perception and their ability to differentiate based on subtle variations in shape or size, rather than being distracted by differences in the objects themselves.

Using identical objects minimizes the complexity of the task and reduces the cognitive load, making it easier to accurately gauge the sensory processing abilities of the individual. It allows for a clear evaluation of tactile discrimination skills, which is essential in understanding the level of sensory integration and responsiveness in the affected side, especially in the context of hemiplegia.

In contrast, using randomly chosen objects of varying sizes, objects with different textures, or a single large object could introduce variables that may obscure the assessment of stereognosis specifically. These alternatives might confuse the task or overwhelm the individual's inherent abilities in recognizing objects solely by feel.