Keep Going: Post Concussion Syndrome What to do Next Complementary and Alternative Therapy Strategies for Cognition
Post Concussion Syndrome: Strategies for cognition
Ongoing difficulty with cognitive skills like memory and attention is frustrating! You may feel scattered and have difficulty accomplishing basic tasks. A multi-disciplinary treatment team can help with changes in cognition. Typically the speech-language pathologist (speech therapist) on this team will teach you about cognition and strategies to help. If you haven’t seen a multi-disciplinary team yet, ask your doctor for a referral.
But, after therapy you may have ongoing difficulty with cognition for several reasons. Sometimes other conditions impact cognition and/or your overall recovery. Sometimes, people forget about the strategies they learned or have trouble applying them consistently after therapy. Or, people experience new challenges as they return to different activities. If this is the case, you can ask your doctor about returning to therapy.
If you need a strategy refresher, here are some ideas:
Attention
Know the optimal time of day and environment for you to complete thinking tasks. Modify your day to complete challenging tasks when you’re at your best.
Decide what you want to accomplish and how long you want to work before you start. Write your plan in a place you will see it, remove other distractions, and set a timer to help you stay focused.
Memory
Have a memory system for important information. This can be paper, digital, or a mix, but should be something that is easy to use. Set a routine time each day when you review and update this system.
Don’t store information or reminders mentally. This takes up a lot of mental energy. Complete tasks or use information immediately so you don’t have to remember it later. Or make a reminder in a trusted place.
Planning and organization
Capture and delete
Have a task “capture” list. Write down everything you need to do or want to do. Delete tasks that have low risks for doing them/rewards for doing them.
Plan, pair, pace
Make a daily plan to accomplish high priority tasks. Ask yourself if it’s reasonable before committing.
Pair similar tasks together to conserve your energy.
Pace yourself by alternating thinking and movement tasks. Plan to take breaks ahead of time.
Transitions and routines
Do one task or one type of task at a time. Give yourself time to transition between each task.
Establish restful routines at the beginning and end of each day.
Review strategies
If you already saw a speech-language pathologist, review the strategies you learned in therapy. Remember what helped the most. If you stopped using your strategies, try again!
Maintain strategies
It takes a little bit of work to use strategies consistently. You can make a list and keep it in a place you’ll see every day. Or, you can set phone alarms to remind you. It can take a few weeks or a few months to get into a good routine.
These strategies help many people after a concussion, but everyone is different and this is not an exhaustive list! For help understanding strategies and learning how to use them consistently, get a referral from your doctor to see a speech-language pathologist.
For more strategies ideas, browse other ideas to improve cognition after brain injury.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with questions, and before starting any nutrition, diet, exercise, fitness, medical, or wellness program.