.
Executive Function and Cognition Occupational Therapy

Cognition Treatments for Occupational Therapy

Executive function and Cognition Treatments are a Necessary Modality for OT

Stop feeling insecure and lost.

Don't wait for BURNOUT to consume your life because there just isn't enough time for professional development or searching for evidence-based information and training for daily clinical treatments.

Join the BOT Rehabilitation Resource Portal and Receive  24/7 access to the highest quality resources designed by an experienced therapist speciically for busy, motivated, and passionate therapists and therapy assistants.

Membership Perks

What is included? 

Your investment gives you resources to save you stress, self-doubt, and burnout as you become a confident and competent practitioner who can stand up for your professional point of view and scope of practice. 

Cognition Treatments for Occupational Therapy

Executive function and Cognition Treatments are a Necessary Modality for OT

In occupational therapy, cognition treatments are integral for enhancing occupational performance and fostering independence in individuals with cognitive impairments. Understanding the differences between functional cognition, cognitive remedial therapy, and adaptive memory techniques is essential for effective intervention strategies and maximizing functional outcomes.

Functional cognition treatments refers to the application of cognitive skills and strategies in real-life contexts to support engagement in meaningful activities and roles. Occupational therapists focus on improving an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks independently by targeting specific cognitive domains such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and executive function. Functional cognition interventions involve task-oriented activities, environmental modifications, and compensatory strategies tailored to the individual’s unique needs and goals. By incorporating functional cognition into therapy sessions, occupational therapists help individuals develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate daily life activities effectively and participate in meaningful occupations.

Cognitive remedial therapy (cognition treatments focused on remediation), on the other hand, involves structured exercises and activities designed to improve specific cognitive deficits through repetitive practice and skill-building. Occupational therapists use cognitive remedial therapy to target underlying cognitive impairments, such as memory deficits, attentional difficulties, or executive dysfunction. These interventions may include memory exercises, attention-training tasks, problem-solving activities, and cognitive training software programs. Cognitive remedial therapy aims to enhance cognitive function, promote neural plasticity, and improve overall cognitive performance, enabling individuals to better manage daily tasks and responsibilities.

Teaching adaptive memory techniques falls within the realm of functional cognition treatments, as it involves providing individuals with practical strategies and tools to compensate for memory deficits and support independent functioning in daily life. Occupational therapists teach individuals how to use external memory aids, such as calendars, planners, reminder apps, and memory notebooks, to organize tasks, schedule appointments, and recall important information. Additionally, therapists may incorporate cognitive strategies such as chunking, mnemonics, and rehearsal techniques to improve memory encoding, retention, and retrieval. By teaching adaptive memory techniques, occupational therapists empower individuals to overcome memory challenges, enhance task performance, and maintain independence in their daily routines.

How should you approach cognition and executive function deficits in Occupational Therapy? 

Explanation: An occupational therapy plan of care and treatment approach should always be a continuum. Secondly, the rehabilitation frame of reference (compensations and adaptations should be considered for immediate independence while you are restoring/remediating cognitive deficits OR at the end of your restorative plan of care when you know your client is on a maintenance track and requires an added assist to maximize independence.

Special note: If your client has a progressive neurological condition when you know at some point your they will require the procedural memory to use durable medical equipment, adaptive equipment, or assistive technology, it is appropriate to begin training during a restorative plan of care continuum. Your client will benefit from treatment sessions based in repetition even when it feels ‘silly’ because they are functioning well above level necessitating the equipment. In this case, take time educate your client and tell them why you are incorporating the training into their usual restorative sessions.

What is an example of the ‘OT therapeutic flow’?

  1. Comprehensive Evaluation including executive function AND physical performance.
  2. Include caregiver (if present) by giving them caregiver-based assessments while you perform the evaluation of your primary client.
  3. Establish baselines according to the reason you are seeing them
  4. Establish patient ‘buy-in’ and make sure you are on the same page
  5. Discuss plan of care and the path you believe will allow maximum return on time spent in occupational therapy
  6. Be sure to incorporate mobility AND cognition-based activities into each treatment session. Multi-modal is key!
  7. Monitor progress using objective measures, caregiver check-in
  8. Upon discharge, establish ‘next steps’ and ‘warning signs’ to ensure your clients know when to call occupational therapy for a screen, new evaluation, or consult for additional resources

Browse the Cognition Treatments in the OT Resource Store!

Don’t want to pay for each PDF individually? No problem! The BOT Portal Membership comes with all printable resources and more!

What are some of the symptoms of cognitive impairment that an occupational therapy practitioner can address?

Working Memory

Working Memory

Do you find it challenging to remember things you just learned or heard? This could be a sign of dementia.

Episodic Memory

Episodic Memory

Trouble remembering specific events or experiences from your past.

Immediate Recall Difficulty

Immediate Recall Difficulty

Struggling to remember information right after learning it.

Slower Retrieval and Rapid Forgetting

Slower Retrieval and Rapid Forgetting

Finding it takes longer to recall information, and forgetting things more quickly.

Prospective Memory Challenges

Prospective Memory Challenges

Difficulty remembering to perform tasks in the future without external reminders.

Autobiographical Memory Changes

Autobiographical Memory Changes

Memories across your lifespan become less detailed and more vague.

Occupational Therapy Treatment and Documentation Examples

Step 1 of 2

PLEASE READ THIS DISCLAIMER AND AGREE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD: By using this database, you understand that this is in NO WAY a recommendation or direct instruction for treating your clients. Every client is different with different diagnoses and needs, and Buffalo Occupational Therapy is not responsible for the actions you take in your every day life. These notes are for educational purposes and do not replace sound clinical experience and competence. These are examples and have no reflection on the practices of Buffalo Occupational Therapy PLLC.

Alzheimer’s Disease Medications

Alzheimer’s Disease Medications

Dementia Treatments Alzheimer's Disease MedicationIntroduction  People are increasingly interested in the latest advancements in Alzheimer's disease medications as they seek to safeguard their brain health through the most cutting-edge scientific developments....

Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease progresses through several stages, each presenting its own set of challenges for both the individual and their loved ones. In the early stages, memory lapses and difficulty with familiar tasks may be subtle, but as the disease advances, symptoms become more pronounced. In the middle stages, confusion and disorientation become more frequent, and individuals may require assistance with daily activities. Finally, in the late stages, communication becomes extremely limited, and round-the-clock care is often necessary. Understanding these stages can help families better navigate the journey of Alzheimer’s, providing support and planning for the road ahead.

Warning Signs of Dementia

Warning Signs of Dementia

It is difficult to tell the difference between memory loss in normal aging and warning signs of dementia, but there are several common findings that may serve as a warning sign that something deeper may be happening than normal aging.

Early Signs of Dementia in Women

Early Signs of Dementia in Women

“Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved”.  Thomas Fuller Early signs of dementia in women:Early: This refers to the beginning stages or the initial phase of something. In the context of "early signs of dementia,"...

Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur after a fall,  sport injury, motor vehicle accident, blunt force trauma, accident at work, or any...

Lewy Body Dementia and Rehabilitation

Lewy Body Dementia and Rehabilitation

Lewy Body Dementia and Rehabilitation Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.What is Lewy Body Dementia?Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is the second most prevalent progressive neurodegenerative diagnosis causing dementia. It is second to Alzheimer's disease...

Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation

Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation

Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.Common Symptoms of Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). During the progression...

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's Disease Treatment  Parkinson's Disease Therapy and Management Parkinson's Disease treatment; Parkinson's Disease therapy; PD; Parkinson's Physical TherapyCommon Symptoms of Parkinson's DiseaseParkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative...