Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury
Patients with severe brain injuries and disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent a complex clinical population in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and management, including critical ethical considerations. Behavioral assessment scales remain the primary tools for evaluating the level of consciousnes...
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Ubiquity Press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Psychologica Belgica |
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| Online Access: | https://account.psychologicabelgica.com/index.php/up-j-pb/article/view/1381 |
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| author | Charlène Aubinet Anaïs Gillet Amandine Regnier |
| author_facet | Charlène Aubinet Anaïs Gillet Amandine Regnier |
| author_sort | Charlène Aubinet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Patients with severe brain injuries and disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent a complex clinical population in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and management, including critical ethical considerations. Behavioral assessment scales remain the primary tools for evaluating the level of consciousness of these patients following a coma; however, they heavily depend on language and communication abilities. This reliance can lead to underestimating residual consciousness in cases where language impairments go undetected. Accordingly, the latest international guidelines on DoC diagnosis have highlighted aphasia as a significant confounding factor that must be addressed. On the other hand, accurately assessing residual language abilities is essential for better characterizing the patient’s cognitive profile. This, in turn, enables neuropsychologists and speech-language therapists to tailor and plan effective rehabilitation programs. This review examines the current literature on language function and communication skills in patients with DoC, detailing the latest tools for assessing and managing language and consciousness in individuals with severe brain injuries. We explore the critical role of language function in evaluating residual consciousness, particularly in DoC behavioral diagnoses and in identifying covert consciousness through neuroimaging passive or active paradigms. Furthermore, we discuss how therapies aimed at recovering consciousness—such as pharmacological treatments, electromagnetic therapies, sensory or cognitive stimulation, and communication aids like brain-computer interfaces—may also impact or rely on language function and communication abilities. Further research is needed to refine methodologies and better understand the interplay between language processing, communication and levels of consciousness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-75bb2da93f42422b85ef3a5110eaa094 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2054-670X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychologica Belgica |
| spelling | doaj-art-75bb2da93f42422b85ef3a5110eaa0942025-08-20T03:28:01ZengUbiquity PressPsychologica Belgica2054-670X2025-06-01651169–188169–18810.5334/pb.13811366Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain InjuryCharlène Aubinet0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5095-5583Anaïs Gillet1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7107-8112Amandine Regnier2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5135-128XComa Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège; NeuroRehab & Consciousness Clinic, Neurology Department, University Hospital of Liège; Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of LiègeComa Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège; NeuroRehab & Consciousness Clinic, Neurology Department, University Hospital of LiègeComa Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University of Liège; NeuroRehab & Consciousness Clinic, Neurology Department, University Hospital of LiègePatients with severe brain injuries and disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent a complex clinical population in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and management, including critical ethical considerations. Behavioral assessment scales remain the primary tools for evaluating the level of consciousness of these patients following a coma; however, they heavily depend on language and communication abilities. This reliance can lead to underestimating residual consciousness in cases where language impairments go undetected. Accordingly, the latest international guidelines on DoC diagnosis have highlighted aphasia as a significant confounding factor that must be addressed. On the other hand, accurately assessing residual language abilities is essential for better characterizing the patient’s cognitive profile. This, in turn, enables neuropsychologists and speech-language therapists to tailor and plan effective rehabilitation programs. This review examines the current literature on language function and communication skills in patients with DoC, detailing the latest tools for assessing and managing language and consciousness in individuals with severe brain injuries. We explore the critical role of language function in evaluating residual consciousness, particularly in DoC behavioral diagnoses and in identifying covert consciousness through neuroimaging passive or active paradigms. Furthermore, we discuss how therapies aimed at recovering consciousness—such as pharmacological treatments, electromagnetic therapies, sensory or cognitive stimulation, and communication aids like brain-computer interfaces—may also impact or rely on language function and communication abilities. Further research is needed to refine methodologies and better understand the interplay between language processing, communication and levels of consciousness.https://account.psychologicabelgica.com/index.php/up-j-pb/article/view/1381disorders of consciousnesslanguagecommunicationneurorehabilitationaphasiacoma |
| spellingShingle | Charlène Aubinet Anaïs Gillet Amandine Regnier Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury Psychologica Belgica disorders of consciousness language communication neurorehabilitation aphasia coma |
| title | Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury |
| title_full | Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury |
| title_fullStr | Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury |
| title_short | Disorders of Consciousness, Language and Communication Following Severe Brain Injury |
| title_sort | disorders of consciousness language and communication following severe brain injury |
| topic | disorders of consciousness language communication neurorehabilitation aphasia coma |
| url | https://account.psychologicabelgica.com/index.php/up-j-pb/article/view/1381 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT charleneaubinet disordersofconsciousnesslanguageandcommunicationfollowingseverebraininjury AT anaisgillet disordersofconsciousnesslanguageandcommunicationfollowingseverebraininjury AT amandineregnier disordersofconsciousnesslanguageandcommunicationfollowingseverebraininjury |