Citation

Steel J, Togher L. Brain Inj. 2018; ePub(ePub): 1-14.

Affiliation

Speech Pathology , The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2018.1531304

PMID

30303397

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social communication assessment after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a challenging area within speech-language pathology (SLP) clinical practice. Difficulties include the lack of TBI-specific standardized assessment instruments and limited knowledge and uptake of discourse assessment methods clinically. The aim of this paper was to review recent research literature reporting on innovative social communication and discourse assessment measures and methods, to guide evidence-based SLP practice and inform future research. MAIN CONTRIBUTION: This review describes novel standardized and non-standardized assessment tools for SLP use reported in TBI research literature from the past 15 years. Measures include published assessment batteries and pragmatic rating scales designed for use with adults with TBI, and novel discourse tasks and protocols.

CONCLUSION: This paper delineates social communication assessment measures and discourse analyses described in research literature that may be practical for SLPs to use with adults with TBI. The clinical implications and utility of these measures are discussed. This should assist SLPs in decision-making on social communication assessment for adults with TBI. Further research is needed to investigate translation of research knowledge on discourse assessment methods to SLP practice.

Language: en

Keywords

Traumatic brain injury; cognitive communication; discourse analysis; pragmatic assessment; social communication assessment; speech-language pathology