Cognitive Communication Disorder Case Study

Cognitive Communication Disorder (CCD) is a common disorder after traumatic brain injury (TBI) which results in deficits of cognitive functions and psychosocial behavior and thus communication abilities (Larkins, 2007). Under consideration is a case study involving a 34-year-old male, A. B., with a history of CCD following severe TBI (i.e., coma for 16 days post-incident, hemiplegia on his left side, significant memory deficits) due to a motor vehicle accident (MVA) two years ago. His wife reports improvements in speech intelligibility and activities of daily living (ADLs), but persistent and significant deficits in attention, concentration, memory, awareness, behavioral and emotional control (e.g., disinhibition and impulsive behaviors), and social interactions. She also reports that he gives too little or too much information, does not organize information to make sense, often repeats himself, has trouble maintaining topics in conversation, talks and processes information slowly, and does not use social cues from others such as gestures, eye contact, and emotions. He has not been able to return to his career as a car salesperson which requires communication, memory, and concentration. Thus, CCD impacts his social interactions as well as participation in activities

For example, based on the audio tape and information from his spouse, CCD impairments negatively impact his interpersonal interactions such as conversations and his professional participation. However, given its breadth of impact, treatment options for CCD may include cognitive therapy, behavioral approaches, external aids, and pharmacological interventions for (e.g., depression, anxiety) (Barman, Chatterjee, & Bhide,