City Research Online

Abstract

Background and Aims: Cognitive-communication disorders are common following an acquired brain injury (ABI). Remediation should involve individualised goal setting, yet few reports describe the effectiveness of setting communication goals in a group setting. This paper aims to describe a process for setting and achieving goals for people with ABI.

Methods and Procedures: Twenty-one participants with ABI participated in a group treatment (triads and dyads) over 6 weeks (20 hours in total). Specific social communication goals were set using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) with the participant and their communication partner. Goals targeted strategy use that accounted for existing cognitive abilities. The participant and their communication partner evaluated the goals post-treatment and 6-8 weeks later. Data was analysed using Friedman’s Test to identify achievement of GAS goals.

Outcomes and Results: Twenty participants recalled goals independently post-treatment. Significant improvement post-treatment on GAS goals was rated by both the participant (p<0.001) and their communication partner (p<0.001). This improvement was maintained at follow-up. No significant differences in ratings were found between participants and their communication partners at either time point.

Conclusions and implications: Individualised social communication goals can be set and achieved for people with ABI in group treatment, even when participants are several years post-injury. GAS offers a method for structuring and quantifying goal progress. Involving communication partners and cognitive strategies were effective in improving communication.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Behn, N. , Marshall, J. , Togher, L. and Cruice, M. (2019). Setting and achieving individualised social communication goals for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) within a group treatment. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, which is published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12488. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Language & Communication Science
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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