What Are Cognitive-Communication Disorders?
Cognitive-communication disorders affect skills like attention, memory, problem-solving, organization, and the ability to understand and use language effectively. These challenges can impact everyday communication and thinking abilities in both children and adults, often resulting from brain injury, stroke, neurological conditions, or developmental differences.
Cognitive-communication disorders differ from speech and language disorders because they involve the mental processes that support communication rather than speech sounds or language structure alone.
How Are Cognitive-Communication Disorders Treated?
Speech-language pathologists provide targeted therapy to improve cognitive skills that support effective communication.
Treatment typically includes:
- Strategies to improve attention, memory, problem-solving, and executive function skills, such as planning, organizing, and flexible thinking
- Techniques to organize thoughts and plan conversations
- Practice in real-life communication situations to enhance functional skills
Each therapy plan is tailored to the individual’s specific cognitive and communication needs to support greater independence and participation in daily life.