The term "cognitive-communication disorder" refers to difficulty with any aspect of communication due to disruptions in cognition rather than a primary language or speech disorder. People with cognitive-communication disorders may have trouble with attention, memory, organization, problem-solving, or any other processes involved in cognition.
Cognition involves several distinct processes, which are all controlled by various structures within the brain. Because of this, any damage to the brain can cause a cognitive-communication disorder.
- Common medical causes:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Head injury
- Brain tumors
- Alzheimer's disease & dementia
- Brain infections (e.g., meningitis)
- Parkinson's disease
- Other:
- Demyelinating diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
- Drug toxicity
- Severe respiratory infection (as seen in COVID-19/SARS-COV-2)
- Hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)
- Functional decline after illness, injury, or surgery
- Conditions impacting the kidneys or liver
Cognitive-communication disorders range in severity, from mild to profound, depending on the level of impact it has on a person's ability to live independently and communicate effectively.
People with cognitive-communication disorders can experience difficulty with:
- Concentration, shifting attention between tasks, following a conversation, or keeping a train of thought.
- Impulse control– they might interrupt people, use inappropriate language, or avoid using caution.
- Short and long-term memory retrieval
- Including word retrieval– naming people, objects, etc.
- Orientation– knowing their name and the day/date, time, and place.
- Anticipating the consequences of their actions
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Organization & planning
- Completing activities of daily living– cooking, grooming, etc.
- and more