TREATMENT EFFICACY - COGNITIVE-COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS RESULTING FROMTRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN ADULTS

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may result in a broad array of cognitiv e-communicative impairments. Cognitive-communicative impairments are t he result of deficits in linguistic and nonlinguistic cognitive functi ons. The speech-language pathologist functions as a member of the mult idisciplinary team of professionals that collaboratively assess and tr eat individuals with TBI. The role of the speech-language pathologist includes assessment of all aspects of communication, as well as the co mmunicative implications of cognitive deficits, and swallowing; treatm ent planning and programming, as determined by the individual's stage of recovery; client and family training/counseling; and interdisciplin ary consultation. The effectiveness of speech and language interventio n for specific cognitive deficits (e.g., attention, memory, executive functions) as well as general issues of social-skills training and ear ly intervention are illustrated by scientific and clinical evidence fr om group-treatment and single-subject studies as well as case studies.