What is cognition?

Cognition relates to:

Memory Attention Executive function (planning, problem

solving, organising, problem solving, multi-tasking)

Information processing

Cognition can be impacted by damage to the brain, particularly

- The Frontal Lobe, which controls concentration, executive function and working memory

- The Temporal Lobe, which controls memories and emotion.

-information processing involves different parts of the brain working together (attention, memory, executive function)

-attention also requires different parts of the brain to work together (memory, concentration, executive function)

Damage to these parts of the brain can be due to many different reasons, such as stroke or a brain injury.

Information processing:

You may find you:

Take longer to understand information

What can help:

Asking people to speak slowly

Ask people to use pictures and words

Date Published: February 2019Date of Review: February 2022Responsibility: Speech & Language Therapy

Reference No: PIL/CG/0657Version: 1.0

Cognitive-Communication

Disorders

Information Leaflet

Adult Speech and Language TherapyCentral Appointments Bureau

Tel : 01388 455200

Find it hard to understand abstract information

@CDDFTSpeechTherapy

Memory:You may find it difficult to:

Remember things which have

happened recently in conversations

Learn new skills

What can help:

Write down key words when in conversation

Use a journal

Repeat and rehearse new skills

Connect new information to things you already know

Attention:You may experience difficulties:

Concentrating for a long time

Concentrating on more than one thing at once (e.g. walking & talking)

Being distracted by things around you

Talking in Groups

What can help:

Planning your time

Talking to people in a 1-1 setting

Minimising distractions in conversations

Executive function:You may find it difficult to:

Talk an appropriate amount

Begin conversations

Makedecisions

Problem Solve

What can help:

Using visual prompts to remind you to speak more/less, e.g. a picture on your phone

Daily routines

Use checklists

SPEECH

1 2 3Breaking tasks into smaller steps