Communication disorders following closed head injury: new approaches to assessment and rehabilitation

Abstract

In this paper communication disorders following closed head injury are described and various forms of language assessment techniques are reviewed. The usefulness of conventional, pragmatic and cognitive approaches is considered. A new cognitive—pragmatic approach is then advocated which is an amalgam of the last two approaches. From the examples given it is argued that such an approach is practical in terms of: 1) incorporating knowledge of co-existing cognitive deficits; and 2) focusing on normal everyday communication practices. It is also suggested that the use of a cognitive—pragmatic framework has potential in refining remediation and management strategies with the closed-head-injured population.