Brain Fog, Forgetfulness, or a Cognitive-Communication Problem? What Adults Should Know During National Wellness Month

August is National Wellness Month, a time to think about the many pieces that contribute to feeling and functioning your best. We often think about wellness in terms of physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and mental health—but what about your ability to think clearly, remember information, communicate effectively, and manage everyday life?

For adults, cognitive and communication health are important parts of overall wellness, too.

At Marigold Speech & Co. in Janesville, Wisconsin, our speech-language pathologists work with adults experiencing changes in memory, attention, organization, problem-solving, communication, and other cognitive-communication skills.

And sometimes the first sign that something has changed sounds surprisingly simple:

“Why do I keep losing my train of thought?”

“Why can’t I remember what I just read?”

“I know the word. Why can’t I get it out?”

“Why does everything take so much more mental effort than it used to?”

These experiences are often described as brain fog or forgetfulness. But when they begin interfering with work, conversations, appointments, medications, finances, household responsibilities, or independence, there may be more going on.

What Is Cognitive-Communication?

Cognitive-communication refers to the thinking skills we use to communicate and successfully navigate everyday activities.

These skills include:

* Attention and concentration

* Short- and long-term memory

* Working memory

* Processing speed

* Organization

* Planning and sequencing

* Problem-solving

* Executive functioning

* Word retrieval

* Reading and written communication

* Understanding complex information

* Social communication

You use these abilities constantly—even when you don’t realize it.

Following a conversation in a busy restaurant requires attention. Remembering instructions from your doctor requires memory and language processing. Planning dinner while keeping track of several other household responsibilities requires executive functioning. Returning to work after an illness or injury may require all of these skills simultaneously.

When one or more of these systems isn’t working as efficiently as it once did, everyday life can suddenly feel much harder.

Is It Just Normal Forgetfulness?

Everyone forgets things occasionally.

You might walk into a room and forget why you went there. A name may temporarily escape you.

You might lose your keys after a hectic morning.

An occasional lapse doesn’t necessarily indicate a cognitive-communication disorder.

What deserves more attention is a change from your normal abilities, particularly when it is persistent or begins affecting daily functioning.

Consider speaking with a healthcare provider if you or someone you love has noticed changes such as:

* Frequently losing track of conversations

* Difficulty following multi-step directions

* Repeatedly forgetting appointments or important information

* Increased difficulty managing a schedule

* Trouble organizing or completing familiar tasks

* Difficulty finding words during conversation

* Feeling overwhelmed by tasks that previously felt manageable

* Needing significantly more time to process information

* Difficulty returning to work or previous responsibilities

* Trouble managing medications, bills, or household routines

* Family members noticing changes in communication, memory, or problem-solving

The question isn’t simply, “Do I forget things?”

A better question may be:

“Is this different for me, and is it making everyday life harder?”

What Can Cause Cognitive-Communication Changes?

Cognitive-communication difficulties can occur for many reasons and at many ages.

Speech-language pathologists may work with adults experiencing cognitive or communication changes following:

* Stroke

* Traumatic brain injury or concussion

* Brain tumors

* Neurological disease

* Parkinson’s disease

* Multiple sclerosis

* Dementia or other neurocognitive disorders

* Critical illness or prolonged hospitalization

* Cancer and cancer treatment

* Other medical or neurological conditions

Sometimes adults recognize a problem immediately. Other times, difficulties become more obvious when they attempt to return to work, school, caregiving, driving, household management, or a busy daily routine.

Wait—Speech Therapy Helps With Memory and Thinking?

Yes!

This is one of the most common misconceptions about adult speech therapy.

Speech-language pathologists don’t only treat speech sounds or help children learn to talk.

Adult speech therapy can address:

* Memory

* Attention

* Executive functioning

* Problem-solving

* Word finding

* Aphasia

* Apraxia of speech

* Dysarthria

* Cognitive-communication

* Voice

* Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

* Swallowing and dysphagia

At Marigold Speech & Co., adult speech therapy is designed around real-life function.

The goal isn’t simply to complete worksheets successfully in a therapy room.

The goal may be remembering your medication routine. Following a recipe. Keeping track of appointments. Participating in conversations. Organizing your workday. Communicating with your spouse. Returning to your job. Managing your household. Ordering at a restaurant. Advocating for yourself at a doctor’s appointment.

Therapy should connect to the life you actually want to live.

Cognitive Therapy Is More Than “Brain Games”

Crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and memory games can certainly be enjoyable—and keeping your brain engaged is a positive wellness habit.

But individualized cognitive-communication therapy is different.

A speech-language pathologist evaluates which cognitive and communication processes are creating difficulty and develops strategies around the individual’s needs and everyday activities.

Treatment may include developing systems for memory, improving attention strategies, breaking complex activities into manageable steps, practicing functional problem-solving, improving word retrieval, creating external memory supports, and developing strategies for work or household responsibilities.

The goal isn’t necessarily to make someone better at a therapy activity.

The goal is to help them function more successfully outside of therapy.

Wellness Is Bigger Than One Discipline

National Wellness Month is also a great reminder that health rarely fits neatly into one category.

Someone recovering from a stroke, hospitalization, injury, or neurological condition may need support with cognition and communication—but they may also be experiencing changes in mobility, endurance, strength, coordination, fine motor skills, or their ability to complete everyday activities.

That’s where collaboration matters.

Occupational Therapy at Marigold Speech & Co.

Our occupational therapy services in Janesville, Wisconsin can support adults with skills needed for meaningful daily activities and greater independence.

Depending on an individual’s needs, occupational therapy may address areas such as daily routines, upper-extremity function, fine motor skills, sensory needs, functional cognition, and participation in everyday activities.

SLP and OT may address different pieces of recovery, but those pieces frequently overlap in real life.

Physical Therapy Matters, Too

We’re also fortunate to share our community with Davis Physical Therapy LLC.

Physical therapists play an important role in wellness, mobility, strength, balance, pain management, injury recovery, and helping people continue participating in the activities that matter to them.

Speech therapy. Occupational therapy. Physical therapy.

Different disciplines. Different areas of expertise.

One shared goal: helping people participate more fully in their lives.

Make Cognitive and Communication Wellness Part of Your August

During National Wellness Month, don’t forget about your brain and your ability to communicate.

If you have noticed a change in your memory, attention, organization, problem-solving, speech, language, voice, or swallowing—or you’re struggling to return to your previous level of functioning after an illness or injury—it may be worth asking whether a speech-language pathology evaluation could help.

You don’t have to wait until a problem becomes severe before asking questions.

Looking for Adult Speech Therapy in Janesville, Wisconsin?

Marigold Speech & Co. provides adult speech therapy and occupational therapy in Janesville, Wisconsin, serving adults and families throughout Rock County, Walworth County, and surrounding southern Wisconsin communities.

Our adult speech-language pathology services include support for cognitive-communication disorders, memory and executive functioning, stroke recovery, aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, voice disorders, AAC, swallowing disorders, and dysphagia.

If you or a loved one has experienced changes in communication, cognition, voice, or swallowing, contact Marigold Speech & Co. to learn whether an evaluation may be appropriate.

Marigold Speech & Co.

Janesville, Wisconsin

608-728-7774

This article is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose a medical condition. New, sudden, or rapidly worsening neurological symptoms require appropriate medical evaluation.