Acquired Brain Injury: Speech, Language, and Cognitive-Communication Support
An acquired brain injury, often called an ABI, is damage to the brain that occurs after birth. It may happen suddenly, such as after a fall, concussion, motor vehicle accident, stroke, or loss of oxygen, or it may develop because of another medical event affecting the brain. ABI does not include brain conditions that are present at birth or progressive neurological diseases.
The effects of an acquired brain injury can vary widely. Some people experience visible physical changes, while others have challenges that are less obvious, such as difficulty finding words, following conversations, remembering information, managing fatigue, or staying focused. These changes can affect work, school, family life, social participation, and confidence.
A Speech-Language Pathologist, also known as an SLP, can help assess and treat communication, cognitive-communication, speech, language, voice, and swallowing concerns after an acquired brain injury.
Types of Acquired Brain Injury
Acquired brain injuries are often described as either traumatic or non-traumatic.
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused by an external force to the head or body. This may include a fall, sports injury, motor vehicle accident, workplace injury, assault, or concussion. A concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury, but symptoms can still interfere with daily life, especially when they persist beyond the expected recovery period.
A non-traumatic brain injury is caused by an internal medical event. This may include stroke, aneurysm rupture, brain tumour, infection, lack of oxygen to the brain, or other medical conditions that affect brain function.
Both traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries can affect communication, thinking, emotions, and swallowing.
Communication and Thinking Changes After ABI
After an acquired brain injury, a person may have difficulty with the thinking skills needed for communication. This is often called cognitive-communication. It includes attention, memory, organization, problem-solving, processing speed, and social communication.
A person may have difficulty:
- Following conversations
- Remembering recent information
- Finding the right words
- Organizing thoughts clearly
- Understanding complex instructions
- Reading or writing
- Managing conversations in noisy environments
- Returning to school, work, or daily routines
- Interpreting tone, facial expressions, or social cues
Some people may also experience changes in speech clarity, voice, or language. For example, a stroke or focal brain injury may cause aphasia, which affects speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. Other injuries may cause dysarthria, where speech becomes slurred, weak, slow, or difficult to understand.
Swallowing and Voice Concerns
An acquired brain injury can also affect swallowing, especially when areas of the brain involved in coordination, strength, sensation, or alertness are affected. Swallowing concerns may impact eating, drinking, comfort, nutrition, hydration, and safety.
An SLP may assess swallowing function and provide individualized recommendations. This may include strategies for safer eating and drinking, positioning, pacing, texture recommendations, caregiver education, or referral back to the medical team when needed.
Voice changes may also occur after hospitalization, intubation, neurological injury, or changes in breath support. These concerns can be assessed as part of a broader communication plan.
How Speech-Language Pathology Can Help
Speech-language therapy after ABI is individualized. The SLP may complete a comprehensive assessment and create a treatment plan based on the person’s goals, daily needs, and stage of recovery.
Therapy may focus on communication strategies, word-finding, memory supports, attention, organization, conversation skills, reading, writing, voice, speech clarity, or swallowing. Family members and caregivers may also be included so they can support communication at home, school, work, or in the community.
Support may be helpful weeks, months, or even years after the injury. Recovery looks different for each person, and therapy should be practical, respectful, and connected to real-life goals.
If you or someone you care for is experiencing communication, cognitive-communication, speech, language, voice, or swallowing changes after an acquired brain injury, contact the clinic to ask about assessment, therapy options, and current service availability.