Brain Based Communication Disorders

Brain-Based Communication Disorders introduces the reader to the major clinically recognized types of acquired speech/language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders encountered by clinicians working with child and adult neurological cases. The text provides contemporary and state-of-the-art content on these disorders in terms of their neuropathological bases, clinical symptomatology, and prognosis. Basic anatomy and physiology of human communication and swallowing is introduced, as well as the neural mechanisms controlling speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing functions. In addition to the traditional acquired speech/language disorders of the nervous system (aphasia; neuromotor speech disorders) content including communication impairments caused by traumatic brain injury, multisystem blast injuries, and degenerative disorders of the nervous system is also provided. The reader is also introduced to the principles that govern the assessment and treatment for both pediatric and adult populations.

There are very few books available which are concerned with the unique communication problems that can come with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In recent years there has emerged a realisation that these difficulties in communication are closely tied to the cognitive, behavioural and social problems observed following traumatic brain injury. This is changing the way people with TBI are assessed and is generating new approaches to rehabilitation. This volume will be of interest to psychologists, speech pathologists and therapists and linguists. Clinicians and researchers working with people with traumatic brain injury, and their students, will find it a comprehensive source of contemporary approaches to characterising the communication problems of people with TBI and for planning rehabilitation.

This text is the result of the author's research devoted to the understanding of the relationship between brain functions and communication, as well as years of teaching-learning and clinical experiences. It begins with a review of core concepts relating to the structures and interrelated functions of the brain. This information serves as the precursor to understanding the possible causes and nature of neurogenic communication disorders and related clinical issues. It also includes options for assessing the prevailing communication disorder and highlights the association between the etiologies and underlying neuropathology to overt communication symptoms; the rationale for their presentation is to foster essential critical thinking skills to derive at differential diagnosis and formulate a prognosis for recovery of the identified symptoms. The text selectively focuses on the description of language and cognitive-communication disorders secondary to brain lesions. It aims to guide students and professionals who diagnose, explain, and implement rehabilitation strategies for individuals with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. This objective is reflected in its elaboration of disrupted decoding and encoding of linguistic units such as symbols (words) representing semantics and morphology (meaningful units), and the rules (syntax and pragmatics) for using them during communication. The interconnectivity between language and cognition is stressed through establishing the influence of perceptual and cognitive functions on language/communication modalities of comprehension and production. Contributions from the fields of neuro- and psycholinguistics have been incorporated to help characterize and distinguish disorders such as aphasia, dementia, as well as traumatic brain injury and nondominant (right) hemisphere lesions. The text ends with the offering of diverse management and treatment options that strive to either restore or st

Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Second Edition reviews the definition, terminology, classification, symptoms, and neurology of aphasia, including the theories of plasticity and recovery. Best practices of aphasia assessment and intervention are presented including neuropsychological models and formal and informal testing procedures to maximize correct clinical rehabilitative decisions. Theoretical bases for rehabilitation, guidelines for organization and delivery of evidence-based therapy, as well as augmentative and alternative communication therapy, and computer-based treatments are also presented.

There are very few books available which are concerned with the unique communication problems that can come with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In recent years there has emerged a realisation that these difficulties in communication are closely tied to the cognitive, behavioural and social problems observed following traumatic brain injury. This is changing the way people with TBI are assessed and is generating new approaches to rehabilitation. This volume will be of interest to psychologists, speech pathologists and therapists and linguists. Clinicians and researchers working with people with traumatic brain injury, and their students, will find it a comprehensive source of contemporary approaches to characterising the communication problems of people with TBI and for planning rehabilitation.

Neurology for the Speech-Language Pathologist presents the fundamentals in understanding the nervous system in the context of communication. The book takes into consideration the nervous anatomic systems, such as sensory pathways. The text first introduces the speech-language neurology, and then proceeds to discussing the organization and neural function of the nervous system. Next, the book relates the nervous anatomic systems to language, speech, and hearing. The text also covers clinical speech syndromes and disorders. The book will be most useful to speech pathologists and therapists. Neurologists and neurosurgeons will also greatly benefit from the text.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can seriously disrupt the social and communication skills that are basic requirements for everyday life. It is the loss of these interpersonal skills that can be the most devastating for people with TBI and their families. Although there are many books that focus upon TBI, none focus on communication and communication skills specifically. This book fills this important gap in the literature and provides information ranging from a broad overview of the nature of pathology following TBI and its effects on cognition and behaviour, through to the latest evidence about ways to assess and treat social and communication disorders. Much has changed in the field of communication disorders and TBI since the first edition of this book was published in 1999. There have been advances in neuroimaging, providing more accurate understanding of how the brain is damaged in TBI and also insights into its repair. There has been a burgeoning interest in social cognition, and advances in how communication is conceptualized, with a particular focus on the role of how context facilitates or impedes communicative ability. Most importantly, much has changed in the arena of rehabilitation. There is now a growing evidence base of treatments aimed at improving communication problems following TBI, new resources for accessing this information and renewed interest in different kinds of methods for demonstrating treatment effects. Bringing together a range of expert international researchers interested in understanding the nature and treatment of TBI this book covers topics from understanding how the brain damage occurs, how it affects social and communication skills and how these problems might be treated. As such it will be of great interest to clinicians, postgraduate and undergraduate students and researchers in neuropsychology, speech and language pathology.

Clinical Neuroscience for Communication Disorders: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology offers a comprehensive and easy-to-understand introduction to neuroscience for undergraduates and beginning graduate students in the field of communication disorders. Packed with features to aid student understanding, this textbook introduces the neurologic underpinnings of systems involved in communication (speech, language, cognition, and hearing) and swallowing, from the nervous system to the anatomy of the head and neck. A highly readable writing style makes abstract and complex material accessible to students and provides just the right amount of information to challenge yet not overwhelm students. What sets this book apart is the extensive infusion of clinical application. Each chapter begins by tying the content to the everyday clinical applications for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and related professionals and includes clinical cases to illustrate neural functions. In addition to coverage of the main systems, this text contains chapters devoted to neuroplasticity, communication, and cognition to move beyond basic anatomy to the key principles of contemporary neuroscience and application of the concepts discussed. Additionally, explicit connections are drawn between cranial nerves, the oral mechanism examination, and clinicall swallowing assessment. The clinical cases cover a variety of both pediatric and adult scenarios designed to highlight the interconnectedness of neural systems and the complexity of neurologically-based communication disorders. The cases span the breadth of clinical practice—developmental and acquired disorders, pediatric and adult cases, and disorders of speech, language, cognition, and hearing—and are cross-referenced with each of the other chapters for improved understanding. Key Features: * More than 150 customized illustrations solidify connections between anatomy and physiology * Clinical cases throughout the text and expanded versions of the cases in a stand-alone chapter illustrate clinical relevance of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology * Bolded keywords highlight foundational concepts and terminology * Boxes throughout the text offer an opportunity for applying learning through applications, exercises, glossaries of key terms, and clinical cases * End-of-chapter summaries provide an overview of the key concepts within the chapter in plain language * A bulleted list of key concepts concludes each chapter to reinforce learning outcomes * References and further reading augment student learning