SAC Workshop: Cognitive-Communication Course for Acquired Brain Injury (CCCABI) – Level 1

This CCCABI Course integrates research evidence, clinical insights, and the lived experience of those with ABI and provides tools and resources to enhance clinical practice. Praised by both new and seasoned clinicians, sought after by employers, and acclaimed nationally and internationally, the CCCABI course is a “must attend” for speech-language pathologists working in ABI.

The CCCABI Course was initially offered as Cognitive-Communication Disorders Level 1 (CCD Level 1), then expanded to include Level 2 (CCD 2), and a Mild/Concussion course. Sheila MacDonald has designed and regularly updated the course based on feedback from participating colleagues.

Abstract:

The in person CCCABI Level 1 is a 2-day course that includes 12 hours of professional development on the following topics:

• S-LP’s role from acute care through to lifelong communications.
• Cognitive-communication disorders and their impact on daily functioning.
• Return to family, community, social, work, and academic communications.
• Early Intervention acute and inpatient (disorders of consciousness, agitation, confusion)
• Assessment Mid to Late stages: principles, considerations, standardized tests, contextual evaluation, outcome measures, qualitative or functional assessment approaches.
• Treatment principles, strategies, instructional practices, contextual approaches.
• Evidence for cognitive-communication interventions to guide clinical practice and advocacy.
• Treatment for specific cognitive-communication domains: attention, memory, auditory comprehension, and information processing, reading comprehension, verbal expression, discourse, written expression.
• Promoting and supporting family and communication partner involvement.
• Team collaboration and conveying the unique role of speech-language pathology in ABI intervention.
• Note: CCCABI Level 2, which we hope to offer in future, includes specific interventions for Social Communication, Executive Functions, Organization, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Metacognition, Return to Work & School.

Learning objectives:

Short Term:

Participants will be able to:

• Use an established framework for understanding cognitive-communication impairments associated with acquired brain injuries to plan assessments, educate individuals and families, predict their impact on daily functioning, and plan for supports.
• Apply the research evidence relating to cognitive-communication disorders to inform their efforts in education, advocacy, and intervention planning.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of cognitive-communication disorders with consideration of multiple influences on communication, optimal standardized tests, outcome measures, the World Health Organization’s framework for assessment, contextual assessments, real-world evaluation, involvement of significant others, ecological validity, challenges in detecting subtle deficits, and documentation.
• Plan person-centred ABI intervention that incorporates consideration of individual, contextual, and environmental factors, varied needs along the continuum of care, and evidence-based practice.
• Address a range of clinical practice issues in ABI including access to services, detection of subtle deficits, collaboration and team functioning, engagement in therapy (insight, motivation), involvement of family and significant others, and communication of the role of the speech-language pathologist.

Long Term:

S-LPs in our community of practice will assist with the following:

• Optimize service delivery and functional outcomes for individuals with ABI by improving access, quality, and collaboration among service providers through increased understanding of the benefit of speech-language pathology services for individuals with cognitive-communication disorders after ABI.
• Optimize the quality, consistency, and efficiency of their clinical practice through use of a consistent framework for assessment, treatment, research, evidence reviews, and collaboration among service providers.

Level 1 – Modules 1 – 6