Rehab: Cognition

Cognition

How a person thinks: acquiring, processing, and analyzing information then reacting to that information.

Functional Cognition

The use of cognitive processes in the context of performing everyday activities.

Attention

A cognitive function that involves sustained, selective, divided attention.

Executive Functioning

A set of cognitive processes including judgement, metacognition, cognitive flexibility, planning, and sequencing.

Level of Consciousness

States such as alert, lethargic, and obtunded that describe a person's awareness.

Metacognition

Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.

Memory

The cognitive ability to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Delirium

An acute change in mental status characterized by confusion and disrupted attention.

Cognitive Disorder

Conditions affecting cognitive function, such as TBI, stroke, and dementia.

Intervention Approaches in Cognitive Rehab

Strategies in OT such as Top-Down (focus on function) and Bottom-Up (focus on deficits).

Alertness

Awareness level

Orientation

Person, place, time

Alert

Awake, no effort

Lethargic

Drowsy; needs verbal cues; slow responses

Obtunded

Needs constant tactile/motor stimulation; confusion

Stupor

Minimally arousable

Coma

No response to any stimulus; may show reflexes

Task Habit Training

Same task, same way, repeated until mastered

Strategy training

teaches strategies for challenges

Screening Tools

Help locate area of dysfunction

Performance based assessments

identify the “how” of performance