Sometimes people face a host of problems with their thinking and memory after experiencing an accident or illness. Cognitive Remediation is a type of treatment geared to improve the everyday functioning of individuals who suffer from cognitive difficulties.
Types of cognitive problems addressed include:
- Memory
- Attention/concentration
- Reading comprehension
- Visual scanning ability
- Spatial reasoning
- Problem-solving/logical reasoning
- Planning and organization
- Prioritization
- Time management
- Pragmatics/social skills
- Study skills
Cognitive remediation is effective in addressing the cognitive difficulties
experienced by individuals with a range of diagnoses, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (e.g. head injury/post-concussive syndrome)
- Acquired brain injury (e.g. stroke, braintumor, seizure disorder, encephalopathy, SAH)
- Systemic illnesses (e.g. Lyme disease, fibromyalgia)
- Impairment resulting from brain surgery/ECT
- Psychiatric illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Developmental disorders (e.g. MR, PDD)
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder
- Learning disabilities
Treatment includes the following interventions:
- Providing education about how the brain functions
- Promoting skill development through targeted cognitive exercises
- Identifying and building on a person's compensatory strategies
- Facilitating awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses
- Exploring and reinforcing possible adjustments to the environment
(i.e. home, work, school) in order to optimize emotional and cognitive functioning
- Providing support and assistance in coping with life difficulties that often accompany neurological changes