Cognitive Rehabilitation
Targeted treatment for thinking, reasoning and remembering
Changes in brain function due to injuries and illness can affect virtually every aspect of daily functioning, from speech to the ability to work. Cognitive rehabilitation is a comprehensive approach that targets rebuilding conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning and remembering that have been impaired by injury or disease.
Through evidence-based cognitive training or strategy-based approaches, the goal is to help you return to daily life by addressing deficits in memory, concentration and attention, perception, learning, planning, sequencing and judgment.
Who benefits from cognitive rehabilitation?
Individuals who have experienced cognitive changes caused by mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury, such as a brain injury caused by illness or a tumor, may all benefit from cognitive rehabilitation.
- Stroke – Helps in recovery of cognition and communication skills.
- Traumatic brain injury – Supports recovery by addressing cognitive deficits and promoting functional independence.
- Multiple sclerosis – Aims to improve processing speed, attention and memory, the most common cognitive impacts of the condition.
- Parkinson’s disease – Works on the ability to interpret and understand visual information in relation to space allowing for better navigation, focus, plan and control actions and process thinking efficiently.
- Cancer or neurological impacts – Addresses changes caused by brain tumors, cancer treatments and neurological disorders have on brain function and activity.
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – Helps slow progression and improve daily functioning.
- Dementia – Useful in managing symptoms and improving quality of life for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
There are two main categories of rehabilitation directed toward improved brain activity.
Restorative therapy: Aims to regain or strengthen lost cognitive function through practices and exercises for the brain using evidence-based approaches. This can include the use of:
- Memory tests
- Attention training
- Worksheets
- Digital exercises
- Computer-based programs
Compensatory therapy: Introduces strategies to help you work around your injury or lost function, teaching you to cope with or lessen the impact of cognitive deficits on everyday life. This can include the use of:
- Calendars, memory tools and smart devices
- Alarms to regain attention
The goal is for compensatory cognitive rehabilitation to be temporary until you build up new skills, but it can also be a long-term strategy when restoring function isn’t fully possible.
Our clinical experts work one-on-one with you to assist with:
- Attention: The ability to focus on a task.
- Memory: The ability to recall either short-term or long-term remembrances or thoughts.
- Perception and spatial reasoning: The ability to represent, manipulate and integrate visual information.
- Executive functioning: The ability to organize, plan, problem solve and multi-task.
- Language: The ability to find words, follow directions and comprehend.
- Orientation: The ability to be aware of yourself and surroundings.
What to expect
A complete team effort, your therapist meets you where you are in your cognitive skills. We work with you, your family and your health care providers to create a plan of care centered around your abilities and goals. Focused on measurable outcomes, we tailor your program to make it possible for you to live as independently and safely as possible.
Our team works with you on education of injury and treatment, process training, strategy training and functional activities training.
Let our rehabilitation team set you on the path to long-term relearning or adapting results. Request an appointment today.