A Closer Look at Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) After a Brain Injury and What It Can Do For

Every year, thousands of people in the United States are treated for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A mild uncomplicated traumatic brain injury may not require much care beyond an initial evaluation and relative rest and aerobic exercises as you recover, but mild complicated and Severe TBI require in-depth care and neurorehabilitation. 

Our interdisciplinary team at Delaware NeuroRehab provides long-term, individualized care to support stroke and brain injury recovery in Dover, Delaware. We often use cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) — a group of evidence-based services dedicated to restoring cognitive function after brain injuries and strokes. 

A brain injury can bring up questions about what to do next and what to expect from your prognosis. In this article, we’ll review the basics of CRT for brain injury recovery. 

Exploring the methods of CRT

CRT is loosely defined. Any treatment that rehabilitates your brain after brain damage fits into the category of CRT. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and your care team creates a plan that aligns with your needs. 

Individualized CRT includes a variety of methods with the goal of recovering or improving your brain function. A few examples of therapies within CRT are:

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is a form of therapy that uses electroencephalograph readings to monitor brain waves as you perform specific tasks. The goal is to help you gain better control over your brain function. 

Speech therapy

Speech therapy with a speech-language pathologist addresses speech or language issues due to a brain injury or stroke. 

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy helps you redevelop work-related skills and basic activities of daily living, like cooking, self-care and hygiene. In addition they also work on Vision Training, Balance/Vestibular Training (Equilibrium), Cognitive Training (Memory, Attention), Sub-Symptom Threshold Endurance Training.   

Memory and Attention processing training 

This helps you recover your attention span to limit the distractions around you and also helps you recover your memory so you can remember things better. This is usually done by a Speech Therapist and sometimes by an Occupational Therapist. 

Defining your goals

Collectively, CRT methods support neurological recovery after a brain injury. Our Delaware NeuroRehab team chooses strategies based on your specific needs according to the brain functions most affected by your injury. 

CRT can assist with recovering your:

• Memory
• Communication
• Reasoning skills
• Attention span
• Mental processing speed
• Problem-solving skills
• Speech
• Organization
• Decision-making
• Ability to multitask

Effective CRT can be complex and multifaceted based on the extent of your brain injury. However, with time and dedication, you’ll experience measurable improvements in your cognitive function. To schedule a neurorehabilitation consultation at Delaware NeuroRehab and explore different methods of CRT, call our office or book a visit online today.