Acquired brain injury (ABI) can be defined as damage to the brain that occurs after birth that is unrelated to congenital disorders, developmental disabilities or processes that progressively damage the brain. By this definition, ABI includes a wide variety of disorders of varying etiologies such as traumatic brain injury, tumour, cerebrovascular accident and infection.
Cognitive deficits are common in affected individuals in that the deficits interfere with rehabilitation efforts and result in a greater negative impact on quality of life than physical disabilities alone.
Cognitive rehabilitation represents a substantial portion of rehabilitative efforts put forth in promoting maximal adaptive cognitive functioning in patients as well as increasing independence following an acquired brain injury. There are also specific approaches that focus on particular cognitive domains (e.g. memory, attention) as well as pharmacological interventions.
Reference:
Reesi, L. Marshall, S. Hartridge, C. Mackie, D. & Weiser, M. (2007) Cognitive interventions post acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, 21(2):161–200.