Lori Pogarian, MS, CCC-SLP, and Kelsey Lanman, MS, OTR/L (Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital), led the clinical instruction this month on independent living and assistive technology in our Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Fellowship. Topics covered includes cognitive-linguistic testing, guidelines for referring patients to the speech-language pathologist, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), and methods of evaluation for transitioning patients home and back into their community. Cognition, speech, and communication are vital to facilitating independence and functioning in patients recovering from traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
Fun fact – the MOCA has been translated and validated in the Armenian language, and is commonly used by rehabilitation professionals in Armenia and Artsakh!