Please also refer to the cognitive problems section of this website.
Following significant Acquired Brain Injury, it is not unusual for people to experience changes in their cognitive or ‘thinking’ abilities. These impairments can be a significant barrier to successful communication and have the potential to adversely affect rehabilitation. Therefore, identification of these difficulties is important.
Often the communication problems associated with cognitive impairment are not adequately recognised. This can lead to unrealistic expectations of the person’s communicative ability, may cause the person to be labelled as being difficult, rude, or as having a difficult personality. Cognitive impairments can cause significant impairment of social interaction skills and may sometimes lead to challenging behaviour.
Communication and Attention
Communication and Impairments of Information Processing
Communication and Memory
Communication and Executive Functioning
Communication and Challenging Behaviour
How to Help the Person with Cognitive – Communication Impairment
The communication difficulties caused by impaired cognition can cause confusion, distress and anxiety. They can affect social communication skills and the person’s ability to have positive social relationships. The confusion, misunderstandings and thinking impairments caused by changes to executive functioning can also have a significant impact on behaviour, leading to some behaviour becoming highly challenging.