Cognitive Functioning Difficulties
What is Cognitive Functioning Difficulties?
Following a stroke or brain injury, an individual may experience a number of cognitive difficulties, including:
Physical changes - the way they move or the things they are able to do, such as drive or operate machinery, or even sit at a desk
Cognitive changes - the way they process and store information. Memory may be affected, or things like the way they read, or their ability to tell time. Learning to do new things, or remembering to do some things may also prove quite difficult
Behavioural changes - their self-control may be affected, or their motivation. They may find it much harder to be in large groups of people, or to work on one task for a long period of time. Concentration and attention may also be affected, causing some people with cognitive functioning difficulties to become easily distracted
Symptoms can be very mild and may not be immediately noticeable. People with cognitive functioning difficulties may only realise the challenges when attempting to complete complex tasks, or when returning to work. it is important that when people with cognitive functioning difficulties return to work, that they are supported in the right way to enable them to flourish in the workplace.
“I really wanted to return to work after my stroke, but I wasn’t prepared for how tiring it would be. My employer made sure my desk and chair were modified so I was comfortable, and they agreed to a change in my shift patterns, so I could avoid the rush hour, which really helped.”
- Andrew,
Project Administrator
