EFFECTIVENESS OF GIST REASONING TRAINING IN IMPROVING DISCOURSE, VERBAL REASONING, AND GENERAL COGNITIVE PROCESSES IN AN ADULT WITH RIGHT-HEMISPHERE DAMAGE

There is limited research investigating treatments targeted at remediating cognitive-communicative deficits associated with right hemisphere damage. This single case study investigated the efficacy of using a gist-based approach with an adult in the chronic stage of recovery from right-hemisphere damage. After treatment, the participant made gains in some aspects of verbal reasoning, sustained attention, and perceived communicative ability. However, results indicated no global improvement in cognition. Gains in verbal reasoning and sustaining attention were maintained up to six weeks after treatment ended. The results suggest that this gist-based treatment approach is feasible for improving verbal reasoning individuals with RHD. Remediation of deficits in this area is of importance to the individuals with RHD as well as their families and friends because understanding each other’s stories and ideas is an important aspect of our communication.