When it comes to aphasia, we tend to focus on language rather than cognition. But did you know that research suggests almost ALL people with aphasia have impaired attention compared to those without a brain injury? 🤯

What's more, people with impaired attention do worse in therapy. It's difficult to learn to use communication strategies if you don’t have the attention to support learning in the first place. 😕

But here's the good news: treating attention may improve language outcomes on its own, and treating both language and attention gives us the best results. 😊

The problem is that assessing and treating attention is hard enough when language is intact, but what about when aphasia is present? Working around language deficits to assess and treat attention is a challenge that deserves its own deep dive. 🔎

That’s why we've put together a brand-new blog for you: What SLPs Need to Know About Attention & Aphasia. 🧠📝 Complete with references and a summary handout! 🥳

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Treating Attention & Aphasia in the Virtual Rehab Center

Looking for a way to target sustained attention in the clinic and for at-home practice? The Virtual Rehab Center’s Visual Search treatment is a great place to start—it automatically increases in complexity as your patient progresses! 🖥️

The Managing Attention strategy module is also aphasia-friendly, with short sentences and picture support. In addition to these interactive treatments, the Tactus Virtual Rehab Center offers a variety of SLP and patient-friendly PDF handouts on attention and aphasia strategies, free homework, and more! 💕

🚀 Try the Virtual Rehab Center for FREE: tactustherapy.com/rehab​

Thanks for paying attention to the research and adapting your assessment and treatment plans to help your patients with aphasia achieve the best possible outcomes.

We’re here to help you tackle complex attention issues every step of the way! 🧠

👉 Start with our free guide to Treating Attention & Aphasia: https://tactustherapy.com/attention-and-aphasia-what-slps-need-to-know/​

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All the best,

Megan

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P.S. Did you know? You can download dozens of PDF handouts in the Resource Vault of the Virtual Rehab Center, including a summary of our Attention & Aphasia guide and aphasia-friendly information about attention!

P.P.S. This is the second installment in our new "What SLPs Need to Know" series focused on cognitive & communication disorders. First was all about attention. Next month we'll bring you information about auditory comprehension, and a new way to target it in therapy. Stay tuned!