Examining Measurement of Behavioral Neglect Post Stroke

Many individuals have difficulty attending to the affected side of their body or to the affected side of space after stroke (unilateral neglect). Although a number of clinical assessments are used to measure this inattention, it is unclear whether items from some of the most commonly used assessments are able to effectively and comprehensively measure inattention. Clinical assessments provide critical information to clinicians and researchers and are used to inform treatment and document patient progress. Therefore, it is important that investigators more closely examine these existing assessments.

Individuals who demonstrate impaired attention to the affected side after stroke also have greater motor impairment than individuals who do not have impaired attention, but investigators do not know how inattention affects reaching movements using the impaired arm. This study will examine various methods used to assess inattention to the affected side after stroke and also examine how inattention affects reaching movements of the impaired arm.

Inclusion criteria

• Unilateral hemispheric stroke
• 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

• Severe aphasia
• Inability to follow 2-step directions
• Presence of other neurological disease that may impair vision or perception during performance of evaluation procedures