Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Communication Interventions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury

Part of the book series: Clinical Handbooks in Neuropsychology ((CHNEURO))

Abstract

Interventions that address social communication abilities are of key importance in the rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI), due to the impact of social competence on social and occupational outcomes. This chapter will review various interventions that have been utilized to address social communication difficulties after TBI. The first section of the chapter outlines the typical social communication changes observed in TBI and will clarify the scope of skills encompassed by the term social communication abilities. This will be followed by a brief review of the extant literature linking social communication to social and occupational functioning. A review of the interventions that have been used and evidence of their effectiveness is then presented, followed by a case illustration to outline clinical applications of social communication interventions for persons with TBI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hartley, L. L. (1995). Cognitive-communicative abilities following brain injury. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Marsh, N. V. (1999). Social skill deficits following traumatic brain injury: Assessment and treatment. In S. McDonald, L. Togher, & C. Code (Eds.), Communication disorders following traumatic brain injury (pp. 175–210). East Sussex, England: Psychology Press Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brooks, D. N., McKinlay, W., Symington, C., Beattie, A., & Campsie, L. (1987). Return to work within the first seven years of severe head injury. Brain Injury, 1, 5–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Morton, M. V., & Wehman, P. (1995). Psychosocial and emotional sequelae of individuals with traumatic brain injury: A literature review and recommendations. Brain Injury, 9(1), 81–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Struchen, M. A., Clark, A. N., Sander, A. M., Mills, M. R., Evans, G., & Kurtz, D. (2008). Relation of executive functioning and social communication measures to functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury. NeuroRehabilitation, 23(2), 185–198.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mooney, G. F. (1988). Relative contributions of neurophysical, cognitive, and personality changes to disability after brain injury. Cognitive Rehabilitation, 6(5), 14–20.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fuhrer, M., Rintala, D. H., Hart, K. A., Clearman, R., & Young, M. E. (1992). Relationship of life satisfaction to impairment, disability, and handicap among persons with spinal cord injury living in the community. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 73(6), 52–557.

    Google Scholar 

  9. McDonald, S. (1992). Communication disorders following closed head injury: New approaches to assessment and treatment. Brain Injury, 6, 283–292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ylvisaker, M. (1998). Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation: Children and adolescents. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  11. McFall, R. M. (1982). A review and reformulation of the concept of social skills. Behavioral Assessment, 4, 1–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ylvisaker, M., Turkstra, L. S., & Coelho, C. (2005). Behavioral and social interventions for individuals with traumatic brain injury: A summary of the research with clinical implications. Seminars in Speech and Language, 26(4), 256–267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Martin-Rodriguez, J. F., & Leon-Carrion, J. (2010). Theory of mind deficits in patients with acquire brain injury: A quantitative review. Neuropsychologia, 48(5), 1181–1191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Prigatano, G. P. (1999). Principles of neuropsychological rehabilitation. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Flanagan, S., McDonald, S., & Togher, L. (1995). Evaluating social skills following traumatic brain injury: The BRISS as a clinical tool. Brain Injury, 9(4), 321–338.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Jorge, R. E., Robinson, R. G., Arndt, S. V., Starkstein, S. E., Forrester, A. W., & Geisler, F. (1993). Depression following traumatic brain injury: A 1 year longitudinal study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 27, 233–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gomez-Hernandez, R., Max, J. E., Kosier, T., Paradiso, S., & Robinson, R. G. (1997). Social impairment and depression after traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 78, 1321–1326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Holbourn, A. H. S. (1943). Mechanics of head injuries. Lancet, 1, 438–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ommaya, A. K., & Corrao, P. (1971). Pathologic biomechanics of central nervous system injury in head impact and whiplash injury. In K. M. Bringhaus (Ed.), Accident pathology (pp. 16–181). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Adams, J. H., Graham, D. I., Scott, G., Parker, L. S., & Doyle, D. (1980). Brain damage in fatal non-missile head injury. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 33, 1132–1145.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rolls, E. T. (2000). The orbitofrontal cortex and reward. Cerebral Cortex, 10, 284–294.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Schlund, M. W. (2002). Effects of acquired brain injury on adaptive choice and the role of reduced sensitivity to contingencies. Brain Injury, 16, 527–535.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Anderson, S. W., Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1999). Impairment of social and moral behavior related to early damage in human prefrontal cortex. Nature Neuroscience, 2, 1032–1037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Damasio, A. R., Tranel, D., & Damasio, H. (1990). Individuals with sociopathic behavior caused by frontal damage fail to response autonomically to social stimuli. Behavioural Brain Research, 41, 81–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tranel, D., Bechara, A., & Denburg, N. L. (2002). Asymmetric functional roles of right and left ventromedial prefrontal cortices in social conduct, decision-making, and emotional processing. Cortex, 38, 589–612.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ommaya, A. K., & Gennarelli, T. A. (1974). Cerebral concussion and traumatic unconsciousness: Correlation of experimental and clinical observations on blunt head injuries. Brain, 97, 633–654.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Meyers, C. A., Levin, H. S., Eisenberg, H. M., & Guinto, F. C. (1983). Early versus late lateral ventricle enlargement following closed head injury. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 46, 1092–1097.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kozloff, R. (1987). Networks of social support and the outcome from severe head injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 2, 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Temkin, N. R., Corrigan, J. D., Dikmen, S. S., & Machamer, J. (2009). Social functioning after traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 24(6), 460–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Snow, P., Douglas, J., & Ponsford, J. (1998). Conversational discourse abilities following severe traumatic brain injury: A follow-up study. Brain Injury, 12(11), 911–935.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Struchen, M. A., Pappadis, M. R., Sander, A. M., Burrows, C. S., & Myszka, K. A. (2011). Examining the contribution of social communication abilities and affective/behavioral functioning to social integration outcomes for adults with traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 26(1), 40–42.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Stambrook, M., Moore, A. D., Peters, L. C., Devianene, C., & Hawryluk, G. A. (1990). Effects of mild, moderate and severe closed head injury on long-term vocational status. Brain Injury, 4(2), 183–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Sale, P., West, M., Sherron, P., & Wehman, P. (1991). Exploratory analysis of job separations from supported employment for persons with traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 6(3), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Godfrey, H. P. D., Partridge, F. M., Knight, R. G., & Bishara, S. (1993). Course of insight disorder and emotional dysfunction following closed head injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 15, 503–515.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Rosenbaum, M., & Najenson, T. (1976). Changes in life patterns and symptoms of low mood as reported by wives of severely brain-injured soldiers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44, 881–888.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Liss, M., & Willer, B. (1990). Traumatic brain injury and marital relationships: A literature review. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 12(4), 309–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Linn, R. T., Allen, K., & Willer, B. S. (1994). Affective symptoms in the chronic stage of traumatic brain injury: A study of married couples. Brain Injury, 8(2), 135–147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Gosling, J., & Oddy, M. (1999). Rearranged marriages: Marital relationships after head injury. Brain Injury, 13(10), 785–796.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Thomsen, I. V. (1974). The patient with severe head injury and his family. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 6, 180–183.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Thomsen, I. V. (1984). Late outcome of very severe blunt head trauma: A 10-15 year second follow-up. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 4, 260–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Brooks, D. N., & Aughton, M. E. (1979). Psychological consequences of blunt head trauma. International Rehabilitation Medicine, 1, 160–165.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kreutzer, J. S., Gervasio, A. H., & Camplair, P. S. (1994). Patient correlates of caregivers’ distress and family functioning after traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 8(3), 211–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Godfrey, H. P. D., Knight, R. G., & Bishara, S. N. (1991). The relationship between social skill and family problem-solving following very severe closed head injury. Brain Injury, 5(2), 207–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Liberman, R. P., Eckman, T. A., & Marder, S. R. (2001). Training in social problem solving among persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatric Services, 52, 31–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Hambrick, J. P., Weeks, J. W., Harb, G. C., & Heimberg, R. G. (2003). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: Supporting evidence and future directions. CNS Spectrums, 8, 373–381.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Kennedy, C. H. (2001). Social interaction interventions for youth with severe disabilities should emphasize independence. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 7, 122–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. McDonald, S., & Flanagan, S. (2004). Social perception deficits after traumatic brain injury: Interaction between emotion recognition, mentalizing ability, and social communication. Neuropsychology, 18, 572–579.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Milders, M., Ieswaart, M., Crawford, J. R., & Currie, D. (2006). Impairments in theory of mind shortly after traumatic brain injury and at 1-year follow-up. Neuropsychology, 20, 400–408.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Struchen, M. A. (2005). Social communication interventions for persons with traumatic brain injury. In W. M. High Jr., A. M. Sander, M. A. Struchen, & K. A. Hart (Eds.), Rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (pp. 88–117). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Dahlberg, C. A., Cusick, C. P., Hawley, L. A., Newman, J. A., Morey, C. E., Harrison-Felix, C. L., et al. (2007). Treatment efficacy of social communication skills training after traumatic brain injury: A randomized treatment and deferred treatment controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 88, 1561–1573.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. McDonald, S., Tate, R., Togher, L., Bornhofen, C., Long, E., Gertler, P., et al. (2008). Social skills treatment for people with severe, chronic acquired brain injuries: A multicenter trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89, 1648–1659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Braden, C., Hawley, L., Newman, J., Morey, C., Gerber, D., & Harrison-Felix, C. (2010). Social communication skills group treatment: A feasibility study for persons with traumatic brain injury and comorbid conditions. Brain Injury, 24(11), 1298–1310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Bornhofen, C., & McDonald, S. (2008). Treating deficits in emotion processing following traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 18(1), 22–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Bornhofen, C., & McDonald, S. (2008). Comparing strategies for treating emotion perception deficits in traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 23(2), 103–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Togher, L., McDonald, S., Code, C., & Grant, S. (2004). Training communication partners of people with traumatic brain injury: A randomized controlled trial. Aphasiology, 18(4), 313–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Behn, N., Togher, L., Power, E., & Heard, R. (2012). Evaluating communication training for paid carers of people with traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 26(13–14), 1702–1715.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Helffenstein, D. A., & Wechsler, F. S. (1982). The use of interpersonal process recall (IPR) in the remediation of interpersonal and communication skill deficits in the newly brain-injured. Clinical Neuropsychology, 4(3), 139–143.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Kagan, N. (1975). Influencing human interaction: Eleven years with IPR. Canadian Counselor, 9, 74–97.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Kagan, N., Krathwohl, D. R., & Miller, R. (1963). Stimulated recall in therapy using videotape: A case study. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 10, 237–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Kagan, N. (1969). Interpersonal process recall. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 148(4), 365–374.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Struchen, M. A., Clark, A. N., Davis, L. C., Mazzei, D. M., Bogaards, J. A., Sander, A. M., et al. Use of Interpersonal Process Recall training to address social communication abilities after traumatic brain injury (unpublished manuscript).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Gajar, A., Schloss, P. J., Schloss, C. N., & Thompson, C. K. (1984). Effects of feedback and self-monitoring on head trauma youths’ conversation skills. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 17, 353–358.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Schloss, P. J., Thompson, C. K., Gajar, A. H., & Schloss, C. K. (1985). Influence of self-monitoring on heterosexual conversational behaviors of head trauma youth. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 6, 269–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Giles, G. M., Fussey, I., & Burgess, P. (1988). The behavioral treatment of verbal interaction skills following severe head injury: A single case study. Brain Injury, 2, 75–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Brotherton, F. A., Thomas, L. L., Wisotzek, I. E., & Milan, M. A. (1988). Social skills training in the rehabilitation of patients with traumatic closed head injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 69, 827–832.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Boake, C. (1991). Social skills training following head injury. In J. S. Kreutzer & P. H. Wehman (Eds.), Cognitive rehabilitation for persons with traumatic brain injury. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Haskins, E. C., Cicerone, K., Dams-O’Connor, K., Eberle, R., Langenbahn, D., Shapiro-Rosenbaum, A., et al. (2012). Cognitive rehabilitation manual: Translating evidence-based recommendations into practice. Reston, VA: American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Johnson, D. A., & Newton, A. (1987). Social adjustment and interaction after severe head injury: II. Rationale and basis for intervention. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 26, 289–298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Wiseman-Hakes, C., Stewart, M. L., Wasserman, R., & Schuller, R. (1998). Peer group training of pragmatic skills in adolescents with traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 13, 23–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Sohlberg, M. M., Perlewitz, P. G., Johansen, A., Schultz, J., Johnson, L., & Hartry, A. (1992). Improving pragmatic skills in persons with head injury. Tucson, AZ: Communication Skill Builders.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Radice-Neumann, D., Zupan, B., Tomita, M., & Willer, B. (2009). Training emotional processing in persons with brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 24(5), 313–323.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Kagan, A., Black, S., Duchan, J., Mackie, N., & Square, P. (2001). Training volunteers as conversation partners using “Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia”: A controlled trial. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 44, 624–638.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Ripich, D., Ziol, E., Fritsch, T., & Durand, E. (1999). Training Alzheimer’s disease caregivers for successful communication. Clinical Gerontologist, 21, 37–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. World Health Organization. (2001). International classification of functioning, disability, and health. Report. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  75. O’Reilly, M. F., Lacnioni, G. E., & O’Kane, N. (2000). Using a problem-solving approach to teach social skills to workers with brain injuries in supported employment settings. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 14, 187–193.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Struchen, M. A., Davis, L. C., Bogaards, J. A., Hudler-Hull, T., Clark, A. N., Mazzei, D. M., et al. (2011). Making connections after brain injury: Development and evaluation of a social peer-mentoring program for persons with traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 26(1), 4–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Turner-Stokes, L. (2009). Goal attainment scaling (GAS): A practical guide. Clinical Rehabilitation, 23(4), 362–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

Preparation of this chapter was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) grants H133A070043, H133B090023, and H133A120020.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology/Neuropsychology, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX, USA

    Margaret A. Struchen Ph.D.

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Margaret A. Struchen Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Margaret A. Struchen Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret A. Struchen Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. TIRR Memorial Hermann, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Mark Sherer

  2. Baylor College of Medicine/Harris Health System, Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas, USA

    Angelle M. Sander

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Struchen, M.A. (2014). Social Communication Interventions. In: Sherer, M., Sander, A. (eds) Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury. Clinical Handbooks in Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0784-7_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation