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Solving Pictured Problems

SKILL: Reasoning

DIFFICULTY: 1/5

LEVELS: 3, based on the number of pictured choices (2, 3, or 4)

BRIEF RATIONALE: This treatment helps people reason through common problems without language.

In Solving Pictured Problems, you will see a pictured daily living problem and be asked to choose the best pictured solution. All pictures belong to one of the following categories, making them functional and relevant across a variety of settings: education, finance, food and drink, health, household, hygiene, leisure, safety, technology, transportation, or vocation. You may expand the problem image any time using the arrows in the lower-right corner.

Foils may include a picture related to the problem itself, one related to the correct solution, or one visually similar to the correct solution.

The treatment auto-adjusts in difficulty based on the number of foils.


HINT: A hint button is available in the lower-left corner of the screen to reveal text for each picture. Using the hint will help you identify the problem and possible solutions. Using the hint will mark the item as incorrect, but may help you recognize the problem and potential solutions.

FOR THE CLINICIAN:

This treatment targets multiple areas of cognition such as attention, visual perception, reasoning, and problem-solving. The design was inspired by the Short-Term Executive Plus (STEP) approach by Gordon et al. (2006) and the Steps of Problem-Solving by Ylvisaker & Feeny (1998). It is ideal for those with coexisting cognitive and language deficits, as it does not require speaking, reading, or typing. Preliminary findings suggest that addressing executive functions, such as problem-solving, can improve the ability to repair communication breakdowns, an important skill for those with a language impairment.

Selected References:

  1. Gordon, W. A., Cantor, J., Ashman, T., & Brown, M. (2006). Treatment of post-TBI executive dysfunction. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 21(2), 156–167.
  2. Luna, C. Z. (2011). Functional Communication in Chronic Aphasia and Executive Function: The Effect of Treating Cognitive Flexibility. http://aphasiology.pitt.edu/2243/1/18-27-1-RV-Luna.pdf
  3. Murray, L. L. (2004). Cognitive Treatments for Aphasia: Can We and Should We Help Attention and Working Memory Problems? Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 12.
  4. Ylvisaker, M. & Feeney, T. (1998). Collaborative Brain Injury Intervention: Positive Everyday Routines. San Diego: Singular.