How Speech Therapy Can Help Your Cognition

By: Jennifer Miller, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS

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Cognitive dysfunction—or difficulty with thinking skills—is a common challenge following a brain injury, whether caused by trauma, stroke, or another neurological event.

These cognitive changes can make basic activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing) and instrumental daily tasks (like managing money or medications) much harder. Crucially, they can also impact your ability to communicate effectively with friends, family, and healthcare providers. 1

While professionals like occupational therapists and psychologists support cognitive skills after a brain injury, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) also play a vital role in cognitive rehabilitation.

What is a Cognitive-Communicative Disorder?

When communication challenges stem from underlying thinking impairments, speech-language pathologists refer to this as a cognitive-communicative disorder. 2

Communication relies heavily on core cognitive skills:

  • Memory: Recalling names, daily events, and multi-step instructions.
  • Attention: Focusing on tasks, maintaining concentration, or managing multiple streams of information.
  • Executive Functions: Planning, organizing daily schedules, and solving problems as they arise.

While memory and executive function might seem separate from speech, they form the foundation of your brain’s ability to process, organize, and share thoughts. When these skills are impaired, it can feel overwhelming to navigate social, community, work, or academic roles.

Identifying the Need for Speech Therapy

If you or a loved one are noticing cognitive challenges, tools like the Cognitive-Communication Checklist for Acquired Brain Injury (CCCABI) can help flag specific difficulty areas that suggest a referral to an SLP is needed. 3

What to Expect During an Assessment

A cognitive-communication evaluation typically includes two main components:

  1. Standardized Testing: To map out your specific profile of cognitive strengths and areas for growth.
  2. In-Depth Interview / Questionnaire: To ensure your personal goals, daily routines, and perspectives guide your care plan.

How Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy Helps

Cognitive rehabilitation with an SLP involves personalized techniques designed to reduce impairments, build independence, and improve your overall quality of life.

Interventions generally focus on two key approaches:

  • Direct Skill Building: Practicing and reinforcing specific brain exercises and behaviors to rebuild and strengthen cognitive connections. 1
  • Compensatory Strategies & Technology: Learning new habits, tools, and assistive technologies (like memory apps or structured planners) to manage ongoing limitations effectively. 1

Take the Next Step Toward Recovery

If you, a family member, or a patient could benefit from a cognitive-communication assessment, expert care is available. To schedule a consultation with a speech-language pathologist at Sheltering Arms Institute, please call (804) 764-1000 or visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/contact-us.

References

  1. Brown, J., Kaelin, D., Mattingly, E., Mello, C., Miller, E. S., Mitchell, G., Picon, L. M., Waldron, -Perine Brigid, Wolf, T. J., Frymark, T., & Bowen, R. (2022). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Clinical Practice Guideline: Cognitive rehabilitation for the management of cognitive dysfunction associated with acquired brain Injury. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(6), 2455–2526. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-21-00361
  2. American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2005). Roles of speech-language pathologists in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders: Position statement. http://www.asha.org/policy
  3. MacDonald, S. (2015). Cognitive Communication Checklist for Acquired Brain Injury (CCCABI). ccdpublishing.com

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