Considerations in the selection and use of technology with people who have cognitive deficits following acquired brain injury

Abstract

Cognitive deficits are known to be a common sequelae following acquired brain injury. The presence and severity of cognitive deficits is one of several factors that will influence a person's potential for rehabilitation, the type of rehabilitation required for that person, and eventually that person's capability to live independently and be engaged in vocational activity. The use of technology can influence this potential through enabling a person to adapt or compensate for long-term cognitive deficits and thereby reduce the functional consequences of those deficits. Rehabilitation of such individuals therefore needs to address the use of technology to enable the individual to perform at optimum functional ability. Occupational therapists working in the field of cognitive neurorehabilitation would appear to be ideally placed to address such needs.