No Workbook Week: Functional Therapy Ideas for High-Level Cognition
The #noworkbookweek challenge
A few weeks ago @the.neuro.slp challenged med SLPs to ditch the workbooks and only use functional speech therapy ideas for a week. I’ll admit, I may have cheated one or two times. Even the best laid plans go out the window when you’re working with humans.
I may not have followed the rules perfectly. But, each patient got highly personalized therapy tasks and education. I felt energized by the challenge even though it took more planning than normal.
I thought about describing each session in detail and attaching every single resource I used. Then I thought better of it about 5 seconds later. Neither of us has time for that.
Instead, here’s a list of 4 of my top favorite treatment tasks to target high-level cognition. Most of them are hand-made so you don’t have to spend money out of pocket.
Snap Circuits
Snap circuits are the only purchased item on this list. You can find them on Amazon for about $65.
The kit comes with an instruction manual and the parts you need to build electronic circuits (e.g., light switch, door bell).
I use the Snap Circuits for patients who like to solve hands-on problems. My mechanics and engineers love getting to build something that actually works.
Get access to the scoring rubric I made specifically for cognitive rehabilitation here.
Hospital Navigation Task
This is one of my all-time favorite tasks. I give my patients a list of errands they need to complete at different locations in the hospital (e.g., outpatient scheduling desk, cafeteria, vending machines). I also give them a hospital map.
They have to find each location on the map, plan a route to get there, and then execute their route. This task tells me a lot about their attention, memory, and organization skills.
Excel Budgeting Task
I made this budgeting task as a return-to-work task. It includes a faux bank statement and excel budgeting worksheet. Patients have to enter data, categorize information, and make financial decisions.
This task usually takes patients two or three sessions. I like to see if they can remember where they left off and remember the directions between sessions.
This task took a lot of time to make so I’m thinking about opening a TPT store for some of my return-to-work tasks. Let me know if you’d be interested!
Work Re-Entry Program
This last task was not my idea but I had to include it anyway. My hospital has a work re-entry program run by our therapists and volunteer department. Patients fill out an application and go through a mini orientation (with help from their therapist) . Then they get placed in different departments throughout the hospital.
Patients clock in/clock out just like a real job. They can work their shift as part of a therapy session or independently. It’s an amazing way to give patients hands-on experience before they go back to work or consider their work options post injury.
Functional Therapy
Patients with mild injuries often complete isolated tasks well. Therapists need to challenge patients in dynamic, simulated functional tasks to see their deficits and know how to help.
I hope that these tasks gave you some ideas for high-level cognition! Making creative therapy materials is one of my favorite things to do so let me know what types of tasks you’re looking for and I’d love to help.