The Right Hemisphere and Disorders of Cognition and Communication

Book excerpt: The Right Hemisphere and Disorders of Cognition and Communication: Theory and Clinical Practice provides a comprehensive review of right hemisphere cognitive and communication functions for practicing clinicians and graduate students. It also serves to broaden the understanding of right hemisphere disorders (RHD) within the field of speech-language pathology (SLP). The more clinicians and students understand, the more they'll be able to convey the need for SLP services for patients and clients with RHD, and the more they'll be able to provide effective services. Strokes on the right side of the brain occur nearly as often as those on the left and cognitive-communication disorders due to right hemisphere brain damage occur nearly as often as aphasia. Unfortunately, they receive much less attention. The deficits vary widely but can affect pragmatics, language production and comprehension, attention and executive function. This text covers normal right hemisphere processes as well as the communication disorders and deficits apparent after RHD. Evidence-based practice is comprehensively presented along with suggestions for developing treatment in the absence of evidence. Speech-language pathologists working with clients with neurogenic communication disorders will find current best practices for assessment and treatment.