Cognitive Rehabilitation

                                                                         

Brain injury rehabilitation involves two essential processes: restoration of functions

that can be restored and learning how to do things differently when functions cannot

be restored to pre-injury level.

 

Brain injury rehabilitation is based on the nature and scope of neuropsychological 

symptoms identified on special batteries of test designed to measure brain functioning

following brain injury. 

 

While practice in various cognitive tasks--doing arithmetic problems, solving logic puzzles, concentration skills, or reading--may help brain rehabilitation, this is usually not enough. 

 

Brain injury rehabilitation must be designed taking into account a broad range of neuro-functional strengths and weaknesses. Basic skills must be strengthened before more complex skills are added. Only through comprehensive neuropsychological analysis can the many possible effects of brain injury be sorted out. This pattern of functional strengths and weaknesses becomes the foundation for designing a program of brain rehabilitation. 

 

Brain recovery follows patterns of brain development. Gross or large-scale systems must develop (or be retrained) before fine systems. Attention, focus, and perceptual skills develop (or are retrained) before complex intellectual activity can be successful.