Another Piece of the Puzzle: Cognitive-Linguistic Skills
As SLPs, we are often asked about the various aspects of our profession. Many understand that we help people with communication challenges like trouble speaking or understanding. Some acknowledge our expertise with feeding and swallowing as well; however, most do not know that we also work with some areas that may not appear to be tied to communication at all like cognitive-linguistic functioning, e.g., executive functioning; attention; memory; orientation. However, these skills are very important for one's communication skills and daily functioning. While more severe cognitive deficits may present with more visible challenges (e.g., disorientation; no insight into deficits), less severe cognitive deficits often present with less visible or more subtle challenges (e.g., deficits in executive functioning; self-monitoring).
When patients experience traumatic brain injury, stroke, or one of any other events that might interfere with brain function, it is important to consider the expertise of a qualified speech-language pathologist that can work with or alongside a multi-disciplinary team after the patient has been stabilized. A comprehensive evaluation of one's daily functioning is critical in determining how to best assist those who have experienced any type of brain insult. As with many areas addressed by SLPs, it is extremely important for SLPs to collaborate with the medical team to identify the presence and severity of the patient's functional deficits so that the patient can receive the most appropriate, individually-tailored therapy to effectively treat his or her functional limitations. Among other factors and considerations, accurate diagnosis of the patient's deficits is critical to the success of the patient's intervention.
With cognitive-linguistic deficits, there are additional challenges because of the increased potential for issues related to patient safety or error that may not be obvious or readily identified. As you know, injuries to the brain can result in loss of function. While focal insults often result in focal/specific deficits, diffuse insults can result in more widespread deficits. It is clear that a(n) SLP's role is not to determine site of lesion/injury. Likewise, it is clear that the SLP identifies individuals' deficits and formulates a detailed plan of care that targets each patient's particular difficulty.
If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. If you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.
When patients experience traumatic brain injury, stroke, or one of any other events that might interfere with brain function, it is important to consider the expertise of a qualified speech-language pathologist that can work with or alongside a multi-disciplinary team after the patient has been stabilized. A comprehensive evaluation of one's daily functioning is critical in determining how to best assist those who have experienced any type of brain insult. As with many areas addressed by SLPs, it is extremely important for SLPs to collaborate with the medical team to identify the presence and severity of the patient's functional deficits so that the patient can receive the most appropriate, individually-tailored therapy to effectively treat his or her functional limitations. Among other factors and considerations, accurate diagnosis of the patient's deficits is critical to the success of the patient's intervention.
With cognitive-linguistic deficits, there are additional challenges because of the increased potential for issues related to patient safety or error that may not be obvious or readily identified. As you know, injuries to the brain can result in loss of function. While focal insults often result in focal/specific deficits, diffuse insults can result in more widespread deficits. It is clear that a(n) SLP's role is not to determine site of lesion/injury. Likewise, it is clear that the SLP identifies individuals' deficits and formulates a detailed plan of care that targets each patient's particular difficulty.
If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. If you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.
