ASHA members provide a number of services to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI)—from screening and assessment to rehabilitation services. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and we’re recognizing the important work you do by highlighting recently published articles offering new research on TBI.
Naming, Social–Emotional Functioning, and Intersectionality
Naming Impairment and Language Disturbance During Inpatient Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Assessment and Intervention: People in inpatient rehabilitation for TBI commonly have naming impairment, but speech-language pathologists (SLPs) may not be assessing these basic language functions during their evaluations. Read about two tests that can help assess language function and disturbances after TBI.
Traumatic Brain Injury in College Students: Exploring Associations Between Social–Emotional Functioning and Fatigue: After a TBI, individuals can experience cognitive challenges and decreased social–emotional functioning, which can contribute to feelings of fatigue—particularly in college students. These authors found that increased emotional support after a TBI can help people reduce fatigue and increase their emotional and behavioral control.
Traumatic Brain Injuries in Diverse Populations: A Tutorial for Applying the Intersectionality Framework To Analyze the Societal Impacts of Injury: Individuals from diverse racial, socioeconomic, and gender backgrounds face lower-quality outcomes after TBI, which SLPs can help address. Learn how to apply theories of intersectionality in your practice—and how to advocate for meaningful, lasting change.
Speech Perception and Hearing After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Accented Speech Perception in Noise After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Understanding speech that is being delivered in a non-native accent requires additional cognitive effort, which makes it more difficult after mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI; also known as a concussion). The authors found that challenging listening conditions can also exacerbate existing symptoms in clients after experiencing a mild TBI.
Acute Comparison of Mild-Gain Hearing Aid Approaches in an Adult With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Long-Term Effects of Mild-Gain Amplification on Speech Perception in Noise and Self-Reported Hearing-Related Disability, Hyperacusis, and Quality of Life: Even if they have peripheral hearing in the standard range, people with a history of mild TBI can experience a variety of auditory issues. This case study shows how mild-gain hearing aids can help adults with a history of concussion better hear speech in noisy environments.
More Brain Injury Resources
ASHA’s Practice Portal contains information and links on TBI in adults and on pediatric TBI—including evidence maps, information for people who may have brain injury, and more. You can read hundreds of articles in the TBI Topic Collection on ASHAWire, or check out Brain Injury Awareness Month resources from previous years in the section below.
If you haven’t already, be sure to read last year’s Special Issue on Cognitive-Communication Disorders in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Check back with Context later this month, when we’ll be sharing articles on offering neurodiversity-inclusive services, including those for individuals with TBI.
Previous Coverage of Brain Injury Awareness Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month: New Ideas in Practice (2025)
Brain Injury Awareness Month: ASHA Members Make a Difference (2024)
Brain Injury Awareness Month: The Role of ASHA Members (2023)
