What Is Cognitive Therapy?
Cognitive therapy is a widely sought-after specialty in speech-language pathology. This treatment option assists those suffering from language and cognition difficulties due to brain injury or other neurologic conditions.
Children or adults, this treatment can significantly enhance a patient’s quality of life. It involves various strategies like behavioral techniques, personalized education and communication support.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) defines cognitive therapy as any treatment that addresses communication-related issues, such as attention, memory, organization, problem-solving and executive functions. These skills influence one’s capacity to effectively speak, hear, read or write.
Cognitive therapy is a tailored, personalized treatment with specific and measurable objectives to improve attention, memory and verbal comprehension. The advantages of cognitive therapy can be immense: improved academic performance; greater social inclusion; and strengthened interpersonal connections.
Recent studies have demonstrated that kids who received speech and language therapy had significantly better verbal receptive and expressive language skills than their peers who did not receive cognitive treatment.
Medicare and most private insurance plans cover cognitive therapy to some extent if it is medically necessary. For instance, Medicare and certain Medicaid plans will reimburse for treatments related to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), stroke, encephalopathy or other neurological impairments.
To maximize the effectiveness of this treatment, seek out a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). As members of ASHA, SLPs must abide by strict professional conduct and ethical standards – so be sure to select an experienced licensed practitioner with high expertise. You can locate a nearby SLP by asking your doctor or teacher for a referral, browsing online directories or searching ASHA’s website.