Treating Memory Problems in Adults with Neurogenic Communication Disorders

Abstract

Historical approaches to memory therapy have focused on rehearsal or "relearning" of memory skills and on compensation for impairments. Whereas the use of rehearsal-based approaches has received little empirical support, the use of external compensatory devices has proved helpful to patients with a variety of neurogenic communication disorders. More recent approaches have capitalized on advances in cognitive psychology, permitting the identification of strengths and weaknesses in specific memory functions, and increasing our understanding of the role of response errors in the therapy process. These advances, together with applied behavioral analysis, allow therapy to be tailored to the cognitive profile of an individual patient, and help explain the successes and failures of earlier techniques. In this article, both historical and current approaches are discussed, and memory therapy guidelines are suggested.

Emotion perception deficits following traumatic brain injury: A review of the evidence and rationale for intervention

“…Another important factor to consider is the need for remediation to be contextualized. As emphasized by Wilson (2005) and others (Prigatano, 1999; Sohlberg & Mateer, 2001; Turkstra, 2001; Wilson et al, 2002; Ylvisaker et al, 2003), rehabilitation following TBI takes place amidst an array of social, institutional, medical, and personality factors that must be taken into consideration for a program to be successful in providing both short-term and long-term benefits for any one individual. Just as a major shortcoming of emotion remediation research in schizophrenia has been its failure to address emotion deficits in context, so too the diverse interplay of these factors has often been overlooked in TBI remediation in the past, to the detriment of the long-term outcome for individuals and their families (Turkstra, 2001; Wilson, 2002, 2005; Ylvisaker & Feeney, 1998, 2000; Ylvisaker et al, 2002).…”

“…As emphasized by Wilson (2005) and others (Prigatano, 1999;Sohlberg & Mateer, 2001;Turkstra, 2001;Wilson et al, 2002;Ylvisaker et al, 2003), rehabilitation following TBI takes place amidst an array of social, institutional, medical, and personality factors that must be taken into consideration for a program to be successful in providing both short-term and long-term benefits for any one individual. Just as a major shortcoming of emotion remediation research in schizophrenia has been its failure to address emotion deficits in context, so too the diverse interplay of these factors has often been overlooked in TBI remediation in the past, to the detriment of the longterm outcome for individuals and their families (Turkstra, 2001;Wilson, 2002Wilson, , 2005Ylvisaker & Feeney, 1998Ylvisaker et al, 2002). A context-sensitive approach to rehabilitation, in contrast, makes clear and explicit the relevance of a rehabilitation program to the individual's personal goals, and aims to highlight the personal significance of gains achieved throughout the course of treatment Ylvisaker & Feeney, 1998).…”

Memory Impairments in Adults with Neurogenic Communication Disorders

“…44,50 Accordingly, use of these relatively preserved memory skills has become the premise of recent approaches to memory rehabilitation for patients with TBI. 51 In summary, a common memory profile for TBI patients includes impaired LTM (i.e., retrograde and anterograde amnesias) and WM, but relatively preserved STM and nondeclarative memory abilities. At the same time, diverse patterns of memory deficits are possible, given the great variation in location and extent of brain damage associated with TBI.…”

Ajudas externas à memória na intervenção em pessoas idosas com comprometimento mnésico

“…Relativamente à primeira, baseia-se na teoria de que a estimulação da memó-ria induz a recuperação, em analogia ao que acontece com a relação entre exercício físico e melhoramento contínuo da capacidade física (Turkstra, 2001). Este trabalho focase na segunda -compensação, que normalmente, corresponde a estratégias ou processos através dos quais os indivíduos podem-se adaptar às incapacidades de memória (Bäckman & Dixon, 1992;, ou seja, são acções que tratam de alterar as perdas ou incapacidades das características ou estados dos indivíduos; incluindo-se a (a) remediação, implicando um maior investimento de tempo e esforço; (b) substituição, com o desenvolvimento de novas ou latentes competên-cias; (c) acomodação, através do ajustamento de objectivos e critérios consoante as competências e (d) assimilação, pela modificação ambiental e/ou expectativas (Dixon, De Frias, & Bäckman, 2001).…”

“…Bourgeois (2006) afirma que as ajudas externas, em oposição às internas, podem existir no meio físico sendo consideradas como próteses de memória, podendo-se mencionar vá-rios exemplos tais como livros de notas, notas com lembranças, escrita na mão, notas no calendário, mudanças físicas para criar pistas, temporizadores, colocar algo sempre no mesmo sitio ou num sitio especifico, pedir a alguém que nos lembre de algo, atribuir significados (Soler & Ruiz, 1996). Em alguns casos, as ajudas externas podem-se associar a equipamentos de uso diário no apoio à vida diária da pessoa idosa (Turkstra, 2001), como pode ser o caso dos temporizadores (ajuda externa) no controlo do fogão (equipamento).…”