Cognitive Remediation

What is cognitive remediation?

Cognitive remediation is a therapeutic approach designed to improve cognitive functioning for individuals with a neurodegenerative (i.e., dementia), a stroke, or following a head injury. Cognitive remediation is the process of relearning cognitive skills that have been lost or altered as a result of damage to brain cells and/or chemistry. If skills cannot be relearned, then new ones have to be taught to enable the person to compensate for their lost cognitive functions. Cognitive remediation generally has four components:

Education about cognitive weaknesses and strengths. The focus here is on developing awareness of the problem.
Process training. This refers to the development of skills through direct retraining or practicing the underlying cognitive skills. The focus here is on resolving the problem.
Strategy training. This involves the use of environmental, internal and external strategies. The focus here is on compensating rather than resolving the problem.
Functional activities training. This involves the application of the other three components in everyday life. The focus here is on real life improvements.

The desired outcome of cognitive rehabilitation is an improved quality of life or an improved ability to function in home and community life.

What should I expect in cognitive remediation?

In cognitive remediation, functional changes are achieved by:

Reinforcing, strengthening or establishing previously learned patterns of behavior
Establishing new patterns of cognitive activity or mechanisms to compensate for impaired neurological systems
Interventions are tailored to help the individual be as independent as possible in the management of his or her everyday routines and responsibilities in their home and community

How can cognitive remediation help with daily life?

Cognitive remediation aims to:

Enhance functional competence in real world situations by direct retraining, compensatory strategies or cognitive tools
Help individuals make most of abilities and increase self-reliance and self-confidence by providing training, resources, information and adaptive equipment
Create situations that require individuals to interact, analyze, question, reflect and connect what they have learned in new situations in the community