Introduction to Clinical Cognition: Theory and Functional Application for Occupational Therapists

Course Overview

Haere mai / Welcome to this two-day course designed for Occupational Therapists working across a wide range of clinical environments. The goal of this course is to build confidence in identifying cognitive domains that affect occupational performance. This course will compare and contrast the use of screenings, domain-specific, and occupational performance-based assessments that assist Occupational Therapists to develop practical clinical reasoning skills to guide their approach to assessment and design intervention for clients with cognitive impairments.

What you’ll learn:

• How to recognise common cognitive presentations associated with a wide range of diagnoses including; dementia, delirium, stroke, TBI, addictions, mental health diagnoses, intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders.

• The difference between cognitive screening, domain-specific assessments, and occupational performance assessments

• Practical clinical reasoning skills to guide assessment, intervention planning, and therapy delivery

• Strategies for linking cognitive assessment to functional goals and everyday tasks

Topics covered include:

• Theoretical frameworks of cognition within occupational therapy. Understanding attention, information processing, memory, executive function, perception, and meta-cognition

• Top-down and bottom-up theories - what does this mean? Domain-specific impairments versus occupation-based activity and participation

• Understanding common clinical presentations related to a range of diagnoses

• Review reasons why OTs might assess cognition

• Explore permanent vs temporary cognitive changes - different treatment approaches/ and different associated risks. 

• Analysing cognitive function in ADL tasks. Linking assessment results to functional interventions - practical case studies 

• How to develop an assessment plan.Selecting and applying appropriate assessment tools. The roles of standardised and functional assessment

• Improving assessment results validity

• Understanding reporting requirements – how to translate and communicate assessment findings

• Navigating the challenges of working with complex or comorbid clients

• Explore Implications of changing cognition, including impact on occupational roles and activities, legal, risk etc

• Discuss how to develop appropriate client-centred goals using evidence-based practice to support occupational performance for people with cognitive impairment

Included:

A detailed course manual filled with resources, templates, and practical tools to support your mahi (work) in clinical practice