The application of the ICF in cognitive-communication disorders following traumatic brain injury.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the usefulness of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for describing cognitive-communication disorders. Prominent issues influencing our appreciation of cognitive-communication disorders are elaborated. These are issues with terminology, assessment (including the role of supporting cognitive processes), and the sociocultural context of the individual with cognitive-communication disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is followed by a demonstration of how the ICF framework supports a systematic approach for understanding cognitive-communication disorders in individuals who have sustained a TBI. Finally an example of the ICF applied to the rehabilitation of a woman with cognitive-communication disorders following a TBI is presented.