Neurocognitive predictors of performance on a telephone task following stroke

A growing body of evidence indicates that cognitive function is related to functional ability; however, little attention has been paid to which neuropsychological measures are predictive of specific daily tasks. The purpose of the current study was to determine the neurocognitive predictors of a performance-based telephone task in a sample of patients with recent stroke. A sample of 51 individuals with stroke completed a battery of neuropsychological measures and a telephone task. Regression analyses indicated that measures of visuoperception and global cognitive function were the best predictors of ability to use the telephone. Results are discussed in light of previous findings with different patient populations and different measures of functional ability.