Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Therapy Features

The Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Service deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive disorders due to brain damage of patients admitted to the hospital as general inpatients or patients of the day hospital or the Extensive Rehabilitation Unit.

Care relates to language disorders, attention deficit disorders, apraxia, memory problems, behavioral disorders, executive function disorders and anosognosia, a condition where the patient does not have awareness of their obvious neurological deficits. Our experts have particular experience also in the treatment of neglect, which often affects stroke patients and manifests itself as an inability to perceive objects and people placed in one half of the visual field, typically the left field.

Diagnosis and Plan of Rehabilitation: Neuropsychology Service

At the request of the referring physician, the hospitalized patient is subjected to a preliminary interview with psychologists and psychotherapists of the Neuropsychology Service. The evaluation of neuropsychological deficits is conducted through behavioral observation and standardized tests. During the neuropsychological assessment and establishing a rehabilitation plan, are also involved family members and caregivers to help rebuild, when possible, the context of life and the social and psychological profile of the patient. The neuropsychological evaluation phase concludes with a report and, if appropriate, a plan of rehabilitation in collaboration with speech therapists who will ensure cognitive therapy is implemented.

Objectives of the Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

The neuropsychological rehabilitation is aimed at patients with brain injury or suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. The therapy is designed to facilitate the recovery of impaired cognitive function or compensation for the deficit through appropriate strategies. In the case of degenerative diseases the rehabilitation aims, where possible, to strengthen the remaining resources of the person or minimally to slow the advance of the disease. Patients with disorders affecting their awareness of their deficits are urged to become aware of the disorders functional impact on daily life and also of the resources available to support them. The use of technology allows the training of attention, using computer programs as Cogniplus. Neglect is treated with a visual-exploratory approach, to stimulate exploration of the surrounding space, and can correct the spatial coordinate systems allowing the area ignored by subject to be refound.

Neuropsychological Post-Coma Rehabilitation

The neuropsychological rehabilitation for post-comatose patients applies to patients in remission from a state of coma. The interventions differ depending on the recovery phase of each patient. The Unit can provide rehabilitative care in post-acute patients with altered state of consciousness (vegetative state, minimally conscious state) or in a state of confusion (psychomotor agitation, post-traumatic amnesia) as well as more stabilized patients in a chronic phase. Rehabilitation may be aimed at developing compensating skills, recovery of cognitive deficit and behavioral interventions. The aim is to teach the patient eliminate inappropriate behaviors and providing the means to prepare social reintegration, designed to achieve a satisfactory degree of independence and the recovery of lost relational skills.

Final Evaluation and Discharge

Based on the clinical condition of the subject, the rehabilitation sessions are held in therapy rooms or at the bedside. The team meets regularly to conduct ongoing interim and multidisciplinary treatment. Depending on the time of hospitalization and pathology of the patient, follow-up time affords the team the opportunity to engage caregivers and family members. After treatment, the patient undergoes a final neuropsychological evaluation in which changes in cognitive behavioral framework and any improvements achieved are noted.