Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents unique challenges in the realm of functional communication. Traditional cognitive-communication assessments often fall short in capturing the multifaceted communication difficulties faced by individuals with TBI. The research article "Mapping Functional Communication Measurements for Traumatic Brain Injury to the WHO-ICF" by Hughes and Orange (2007) provides valuable insights into bridging this gap. This blog post will explore how practitioners can implement the outcomes of this research to enhance their skills and better serve their clients.
Understanding the WHO-ICF Framework
The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO-ICF) offers a comprehensive framework that integrates both medical and social models to describe disability and health. The framework is divided into two parts: Functioning and Disability, and Contextual Factors. Each part is further categorized into components such as body structure and function, activities and participation, and environmental and personal factors.
Functional Communication Measurements
The research article maps three functional communication measures to the WHO-ICF framework:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communicative Skills (ASHA FACS)
- Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL-2)
- Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Skills (FAVRES)
These measures were analyzed to determine their relevance to clinical practice and how they align with the components of the WHO-ICF framework.
Practical Implementation
To enhance your practice, consider the following steps based on the research findings:
- Adopt a Holistic Approach: Use the WHO-ICF framework to assess not just the impairment but also the functional communication abilities of individuals with TBI. This includes evaluating activities and participation as well as environmental and personal factors.
- Utilize Multiple Measures: Incorporate assessments like ASHA FACS, CADL-2, and FAVRES to get a comprehensive understanding of your client's communication abilities in various contexts.
- Focus on Real-World Activities: Ensure that your assessments and interventions are ecologically valid, reflecting the client's performance in real-world situations.
- Collaborate with Stakeholders: Engage family members, caregivers, and other professionals in the assessment process to gather a broad range of perspectives on the client's communication abilities.
- Continual Research: Stay updated with the latest research and consider conducting your own studies to further validate the use of functional communication measures within the WHO-ICF framework.
Conclusion
Implementing the outcomes of the research on functional communication measurements for TBI can significantly enhance the skills of practitioners. By adopting a holistic approach and utilizing multiple measures, you can provide more effective and comprehensive care to individuals with TBI.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Mapping Functional Communication Measurements for Traumatic Brain Injury to the WHO-ICF.
