Audiological Screening in a Primary Care paediatric LHO

Abstract

Pragmatic disruption is associated with a range of acquired communication disorders of both neurogenic and psychiatric origin. This chapter provides an overview of the main themes in the research into pragmatic disruption in people with aphasia, right hemisphere language disorder, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s dementia, non-Alzheimer dementia and Parkinson’s disease. These disorders are associated with particular patterns of pragmatic disruption, which, in some cases, have been linked to disturbances in cognitive abilities, most often in theory of mind and executive function. Pragmatic strengths have typically been overshadowed by a focus on the pragmatic deficits in any given population. However, it is argued that these strengths form a crucial component of the pragmatic presentation of any client or clinical group more generally. Pragmatic disorders have a pervasive impact on the individual with the disorder as well as on those around them. Assessment and intervention in pragmatic disorders of adulthood must account for the profile of deficits and strengths, while considering the broader impact of the disorder on the individual and their social network.