Photo: Sleep, Cognition, and Communication

Sleep, Cognition, and Communication

Many people experience changes in their sleep after a brain injury. 12,13 In the early stages, immediately following, people usually feel sleepy and need extra sleep. 14,15 They may also need to nap or sleep during the day. Despite needing extra sleep, some people find their sleep isn’t restful.

Once the initial symptoms of a concussion/brain injury settle down, some people go on to have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep. We know that women experience more challenges with sleep after a concussion than men. We also know that a history of migraines, continued headaches, and mood challenges are also related to poor sleep.

Why is this important?

This is important for a number of reasons. When sleep is poor, it has a negative effect on our ability to pay attention and remember. It contributes to that feeling of brain fog and slowed thinking. When sleep is poor, or a person doesn’t get enough sleep, it has a negative effect on mood and can increase irritability and depressive feelings.

Poor sleep also affects how we communicate. It makes it harder to find the right words to organize and express thoughts and ideas. It can also affect social communication by making the person more irritable or emotional. As a result, a person may say things they regret later or be more confrontational.

References

  1. Greenaway K, Gallois C, Haslam SA. (2017). Social psychological approaches to intergroup communication. In: Oxford research encyclopedia of communication. Oxford (UK): Oxford University Press: p 1-17
  2. Wiseman-Hakes C., Kakonge L., Doherty M., Beauchamp MH. A Conceptual framework of social communication: Clinical applications to pediatric traumatic brain injury. (2019). Seminars in Speech and Language (in press).
  3. Togher L. Training communication partners of people with TBI: Communication really is a two way process. (2014). In: McDonald S, Togher L, Code C, editors. Brain, behaviour and cognition. Social and communication disorders following traumatic brain injury New York (NY): Psychology Press: p.336-60
  4. College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. (2018). Practice standards and guidelines for acquired cognitive-communication disorders. 2nd edition: 1-29.
  5. Macdonald, S., Wiseman-Hakes, C. (2010). Knowledge translation in ABI rehabilitation: A model for consolidating and applying the evidence for cognitive-communication interventions. Brain Injury, 24(3): 486-508.
  6. Togher L, McDonald S, Coehlo CA, Byom L. (2014). Cognitive-communication disability following TBI: examining discourse, pragmatics, behaviour and executive functioning. In: McDonald S, Togher L, Code C, editors. Brain, behaviour and cognition. Social and communication disorders following traumatic brain injury New York (NY): Psychology Press: p.89-118.
  7. Togher L, McDonald S, Code C. Social and communication disorders following traumatic brain injury. (2014). In: McDonald S, Togher L, Code C, editors. Brain, behaviour and cognition. Social and communication disorders following traumatic brain injury New York (NY): Psychology Press: p. 1-25
  8. MacDonald S. (2017). Introducing the model of cognitive-communication competence: A model to guide evidence-based communication interventions. Brain Injury. 31(13-14): 1760-1780.
  9. Atcherson SR, Mina Steele CL. (2016). Auditory Processing Deficits Following Sport-Related or Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries. Brain Disorders and Therapy, 5(1): 1-5.
  10. Białuńska A, Salvatore AP. (2017). The auditory comprehension changes over time after sport-related concussion can indicate multisensory processing dysfunctions. Brain and Behaviour. 7(e00874): 1-8.
  11. Vander Werff KR, Reiger B. (2017). Brainstem Evoked Potential Indices of Subcortical Auditory Processing After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Ear & Hearing. 38:e200–e214
  12. Wiseman-Hakes C, Victor, JC, Brandys C, & Murray B. (2011). Impact of post traumatic hypersomnia on functional recovery of cognition and communication. Brain Injury. 25(12): 1256-1265.
  13. Wiseman-Hakes C, Murray BJ, Moineddin R, Rochon E, Cullen N, Gargaro J, Colantonio A. (2013). Evaluating the impact of treatment for trauma related sleep/ wake disorders on recovery of cognition and communication in adults with chronic TBI. Brain Injury. 27(12): 1364–1376.
  14. Wiseman-Hakes C, Murray BJ, Mollayeva T, Gargaro J, Colantonio A. (2016). A Profile of sleep architecture and sleep disorders in adults with chronic traumatic brain injury. J of Sleep Disorders and Therapy. 5(16):1-8.
  15. Wiseman-Hakes C, Duclos C, Blais H, Dumont M, Bernard F, Desautels A, Menon DK, Gilbert D, Carrier J, Gosselin N. (2016). Sleep in the Acute Phase of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Snapshot of Polysomnography. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 30(8):713-721.
  16. Bloom L. (1974). Talking, understanding and thinking; Developmental relationship between receptive and expressive language. In: R Scheifelbusch & L Lloyd (eds). Language Perspectives; Acquisition, Retardation and Intervention pp 285-311. Baltimore MD University Park Press.
  17. Wiseman-Hakes C, Saleem M, Poulin V, Nalder E, Balachandran P, Gan C, Colantonio A. (2019). The development of intimate relationships in adolescent girls and women with Traumatic Brain Injury: a framework to guide Gender Specific Rehabilitation and enhance positive social outcomes. Disability and Rehabilitation 7. p1-7.