What are Cognitive-Communication Disorders?

Cognitive-communication difficulties occur when changes in thinking skills affect how a person communicates in everyday life. This can involve challenges with:

• Attention (staying focused, filtering distractions)

• Memory (remembering information, following multi-step conversations)

• Executive functions (planning, organising, problem-solving, self-monitoring)

• Processing speed (taking longer to understand or respond)

• Social communication (interpreting context, turn-taking, staying on topic)

Cognitive-communication difficulties are often seen after acquired brain injury (such as traumatic brain injury or stroke) and can also occur in progressive neurological conditions.

At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists assess cognitive-communication difficulties in children and adults and provide practical, individualised support focused on functional communication and participation.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive-communication difficulties can look different from person to person. Common signs may include:

• Difficulty sustaining attention in conversations or groups

• Losing track of what’s being discussed or needing frequent repetition

• Difficulty remembering names, details, instructions, or key points

• Trouble organising thoughts, telling stories clearly, or staying on topic

• Slower responses, difficulty processing complex information, or feeling overwhelmed in conversation

• Reduced problem-solving or flexible thinking during everyday tasks and communication

• Social communication changes (e.g., interrupting, difficulty reading cues, saying things that seem off-topic)

• Reduced awareness of errors or difficulty self-correcting

These challenges can affect relationships, school learning, work performance, and community participation.

What Causes Cognitive-Communication Difficulties?

Cognitive-communication difficulties may occur due to:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): concussion or more severe injury can affect attention, memory, and executive functioning, impacting communication.

• Stroke: stroke can affect communication through language changes (aphasia) and/or cognitive-communication changes (attention, executive functioning, processing, pragmatics), depending on the area of the brain involved.

• Progressive neurological conditions: some conditions can affect thinking and communication over time (e.g., certain dementias, Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis).

• Other acquired neurological events: including brain tumours, hypoxic injury, infections, or neurological illnesses (where relevant).

Where appropriate, we work alongside medical teams, neuropsychology, occupational therapy, and families to support a coordinated approach.

How Speech Pathology Helps Cognitive-Communication Difficulties

Speech pathology support is focused on communication in real life—not just “exercises.” Therapy may include:

• Assessment: identifying how attention, memory, and executive functioning affect communication at home, school, work, and in the community.

• Functional strategy training: practical strategies for remembering information, planning messages, staying on topic, and managing fatigue/distraction.

• Partner and family training: teaching communication partners how to support understanding, reduce breakdowns, and improve success in conversation.

• Environmental supports: simplifying routines, using visual supports, checklists, calendars, cue cards, and structured communication systems.

• Conversation and discourse therapy: building skills for storytelling, explaining, summarising, and participating in group conversations.

• Social communication support: targeting pragmatic skills such as turn-taking, topic maintenance, perspective-taking, and repairing misunderstandings.

Therapy plans are tailored to the individual’s goals (e.g., returning to work, managing school demands, improving independence, or rebuilding participation after injury).

Benefits of Cognitive-Communication Therapy

Speech pathology support can help clients to:

• Communicate more effectively in daily interactions

• Improve participation at school, work, and in social settings

• Reduce frustration and communication breakdowns

• Build confidence using practical strategies and supports

• Support families and carers with tools to communicate more successfully

Progress varies depending on the cause, severity, supports available, and consistency of practice—but targeted intervention can make a meaningful difference in day-to-day life.

Cognitive-Communication Difficulties in Children

In children, cognitive skills such as attention, working memory, planning, and self-monitoring can affect learning and communication. Support may focus on:

• Following instructions and classroom language demands

• Organising spoken and written messages

• Storytelling and explaining ideas clearly

• Social communication in play and peer interactions

• Building routines and supports that reduce overload and improve participation

Sessions are developmentally appropriate and may use play-based or structured activities aligned with the child’s goals and environment.

Cognitive-Communication Difficulties in Adults

In adults, cognitive-communication changes can impact independence, relationships, and return to work. Therapy may focus on:

• Workplace communication strategies (meetings, phone calls, written messages)

• Managing conversation in noisy environments or groups

• Planning and organising day-to-day communication tasks

• Using compensatory strategies and tools (notes, prompts, routines, apps)

• Supporting family communication and reducing breakdowns at home
  
  

Access Cognitive-Communication Therapy in Perth (Malaga & Noranda)

If you’re seeking cognitive-communication support in Perth, including Malaga and Noranda, our speech pathology team can help with assessment, practical strategies, and goal-focused therapy to improve everyday communication and participation.

Speech Therapy Services in Perth for Children & Adults

Speech Therapy (also called Speech Pathology) focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing difficulties. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists support children, teens, and adults to improve speech clarity, language skills, social communication, voice and fluency and swallowing safety.

How Can Speech Therapy Help You?

Speech therapy can help with a wide range of concerns, including:

• Speech delays in children: Supporting speech sound development, clarity, and age-appropriate communication.

• Speech sound disorders: Including articulation (sound production) and phonological (sound patterns) difficulties.

•  Language disorders: Helping with both receptive language (understanding) and expressive language (using words and sentences).

• Swallowing and feeding difficulties (dysphagia): Supporting people who have difficulty swallowing safely due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions.

• Social communication differences: Supporting conversational skills, turn-taking, perspective-taking, and understanding non-verbal communication.

•  Stuttering and fluency disorders: Helping clients manage fluency, reduce effort/tension, and build confidence in communication.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide

Paediatric Speech Therapy

• Paediatric speech therapy supports children with speech, language, communication, and early literacy needs using evidence-based and child-friendly approaches. Sessions may be play-based (especially for younger children), while still being structured and goal-directed.

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Speech sound development (clarity and intelligibility)

  2. Language delays and developmental language disorder

  3. Social communication support

  4. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) where appropriate

  5. Early literacy foundations (e.g., phonological awareness)

Adult Speech Therapy

• Adult speech therapy supports adults with communication and swallowing needs related to neurological conditions, injury, medical events, or age-related changes. Therapy is practical, functional, and designed around everyday participation (home, work, community).

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Communication changes after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or neurological illness

  2. Dysarthria and motor speech changes

  3. Cognitive-communication difficulties (attention, memory, organisation impacting communication)

  4. Voice therapy where indicated

  5. Dysphagia support and mealtime strategies

NDIS Speech Therapy Services

• NDIS speech therapy is available for self-managed and plan-managed participants. Therapy may focus on functional communication goals, speech clarity, social interaction and participation, and AAC support where required. We collaborate with participants, families, support coordinators, schools, and relevant providers to support practical, meaningful outcomes.

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

• Dysphagia (swallowing) support helps when swallowing difficulties affect hydration, nutrition, safety and confidence with eating and drinking. Our speech pathologists can complete clinical assessments (as appropriate), provide strategies for safer swallowing, recommend targeted exercises when indicated, and support shared-care referral pathways with GPs/ENT/medical teams when needed.

• Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

• Experienced Speech Pathologists: Skilled in paediatric and adult communication and swallowing support.

• NDIS Provider (self- and plan-managed): Therapy is aligned to participant goals and everyday function.

• Family-Centred Approach: We involve parents, carers, and supports where appropriate so strategies carry over into real life.

• Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care: We work alongside our broader allied health team when integrated support is beneficial.

Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym

• Our sensory room and kids therapy gym can support therapy goals through a motivating, functional environment—particularly helpful for children who benefit from movement-based learning and sensory regulation strategies. These spaces may be used when clinically relevant to support engagement, attention, participation, and goal progress.

Locations

• We offer speech pathology services in Perth, including our Malaga and Noranda clinics.

Australian Resources for Cognitive-Communication Disorders

For further information on cognitive-communication disorders and available support resources in Australia, visit the following websites:

• Speech Pathology Australia – Explore resources and find a certified speech pathologist to help with cognitive-communication disorders.
  www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

• Brain Injury Australia – Offers resources, support, and advocacy for individuals affected by brain injury, including cognitive-communication challenges.
  www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au

• Dementia Australia – Provides information and support for individuals with dementia and their families, including communication strategies.
  www.dementia.org.au

• Raising Children Network – Offers practical advice and resources for parents of children with developmental disorders, including cognitive-communication issues.
  www.raisingchildren.net.au

• Better Health Channel – Provides general information on communication disorders and cognitive impairments.
  www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.