With the absence of vision (i.e. eyes closed), an individual with astereognosis is unable to identify what is placed in their hand.

A deficit known as cortical Astereognosis of the receptive type describes an inability to utilize tactile sensory information for identifying objects placed in the hand.

Astereognosis can be caused by damage to the posterior association areas of the parietal, temporal, or occipital lobes, or the postcentral gyrus of either hemisphere.

Since Wade test in essence, mimics a temporary lesion of the dominant cortex, other side effects such as astereognosis, Gerstmann syndrome, alexia, agraphia, tactile agnosia (bimanual astereognosis), ideomotor apraxia, and ideational apraxia is possible.