ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the management of social communication problems in the context of acquired neurological disorders in adulthood. It provides the reader with principles and recommendations that are grounded in current evidence and effectively guide practice. Social communication problems are characteristic of a range of neurological conditions, including: those associated with focal damage as exemplified by unilateral stroke, both right and left hemisphere. In addition to socio-demographic factors, linguistic and cognitive functioning contributes to social communication competence. Formal assessment of language and cognitive processing is important to identify the presence and severity of processing deficits that may impact social communication competence. Psychological factors also shape social communication performance and require due consideration during assessment. Mood state, coping style and self-efficacy all influence aspects of interpersonal communication, including sensitivity to the needs of the conversational partner and the nature of communication-specific coping strategies used in response to communication breakdown.
