Brain Injury and Neurodevelopmental Treatment

  • Cognitive rehabilitation is the re-learning of cognitive skills that have been lost or changed as a result of brain injury. There are three potential modules of cognitive rehabilitation.
  • The first component aims to help the individual, his/her family, and any relevant persons understand the individual’s cognitive strengths and weakness as well as the effects of the brain injury/disorder on the person, including fatigue, slowed cognitive processing speed, sensory sensitivities, and so forth.
  • The second part could involve cognitive retraining designed to address the individual’s specific needs that combines:

(a) remediation, e.g., Attention Process Training© (APT©)

(b) strategy training, e.g., executive function training

(c) accommodation, e.g., use of assistive technology/devices to address memory deficits.

The term neuroplasticity is often used to describe the concept behind cognitive retraining.  Research has identified that the brain has plasticity, which means that there can be changes in the neural pathways and synapses as the result of changes in behavior, environment, learning, thinking and so forth.

The Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine has outline best practices in cognitive rehabilitation which we in use in our practice.  

  • The third part involves participation in the psychotherapy which may include individual, group, and/or family therapy.
  • Individual Psychotherapy for PTSD, anxiety, depression, loss, stress, fatigue, pain management, sleep hygiene.
  • Group therapy for survivors and families
  • Couple and Family Counseling

 

Acquired Brain Injury Treatment

  • Cognitive rehabilitation is the re-learning of cognitive skills that have been lost or changed because of brain injury.  There are three potential modules of cognitive rehabilitation. 
  • The first component aims to help the individual, his/her family, and any relevant persons understand the individual’s cognitive strengths and weakness as well as the effects of the brain injury/disorder on the person, including fatigue, slowed cognitive processing speed, sensory sensitivities, and so forth.
  • The second part could involve cognitive retraining designed to address the individual’s specific needs that combines: (a) remediation, e.g., Attention Process Training (APT); (b) strategy training, e.g., executive function training; and (c) accommodation, e.g., use of assistive technology/devices to address memory deficits.