Final answer:
Individuals with damage to the right parietal lobe may struggle with spatial awareness, understanding non-literal language, and expressing emotions in speech, as this brain region is involved in non-verbal communication and processing of figurative speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person with right-parietal damage would have difficulty with various aspects of language and sensory integration, particularly those that involve spatial orientation and non-verbal communication. Damage to the right parietal lobe can lead to a condition known as hemispatial neglect, where the individual is unaware of objects or even their own body parts on the left side of space. Additionally, the right hemisphere of the brain is important for understanding figurative language and maintaining a normal prosody during speech, so damage here can result in problems with processing metaphors, jokes, or irony.
Furthermore, the right parietal lobe plays a crucial role in the perception of facial expressions and body language, so a person with a lesion in this area might also exhibit a flat affect in speech, characterized by a lack of emotional tone or expression. Understanding the role of different brain structures is essential in neuropsychology, and recognizing the impact that damage to these areas can have is vital for diagnosis and rehabilitation strategies.