Name: Ms. Lakshmi S Kunnath
Research interest: Multidisciplinary Neurorehabilitation
Presenting By: 17th World Advanced Nursing Care, Health Innovation, and Patient Safety Conference, taking place from December 17–19, 2025 in Novotel Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
Introduction:
Deficits in cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, and
executive functioning, are the root cause of cognitive
communication difficulties (CCD), which commonly affect
social interaction, abstract language, and conversation (1). A
multidisciplinary approach is required for prompt identification
and rehabilitation, and nurses play a critical role in identifying
early symptoms and assisting with referrals to speech-language
pathologists (SLPs) (2). However, limited information suggests
that nurses are not well-informed about CCD and the role of the
SLP, which could lead to underreferrals and lower service
quality.
Methods: 87 nursing professionals with at least a year of
experience working in hospital settings participated in this crosssectional survey. The design was biphasic. Phase I involved
developing and validating a survey focused on attitudes toward
interdisciplinary care and knowledge of CCD symptoms. Phase
II involved distributing the questionnaire via direct
communication, WhatsApp, and email. Domain-specific
knowledge scores were computed as percentages after responses
were descriptively analyzed.
Results: Participants were found to have a moderate awareness
of common symptoms of CCD, such as difficulty concentrating
(65.9%), talking (69.3%), and being confused (61.3%); however,
they often misattributed unrelated symptoms, such as choking
(39.7%) and vocal problems (42%). Just 18.2% of respondents
said they participated in the multidisciplinary management of
CCD, and only a small percentage of them acknowledged SLPs
as team members. The majority of nurses demonstrated
inadequate understanding of the role of the SLP, which is
consistent with deficiencies found in previous studies pertaining
to dementia and mild traumatic brain injury.
The study highlights the critical need for targeted educational
activities and awareness campaigns by exposing significant gaps
in nurses’ comprehension of CCD and the role of SLPs.
Strengthening referral channels, improving interdisciplinary
teamwork, and ensuring timely, comprehensive care for
individuals with chronic conditions all depend on raising nurses’
awareness.
Keywords: Cognitive communication disorder, SLP,
Nursing professional, Geriatrics and Awareness
References:
1. Blackburn M, Stathi A, Keogh E, Eccleston C. Raising the
topic of weight in general practice: perspectives of GPs and
primary care nurses. BMJ Open. 2015;5(8):e008546.
2. Knollman-Porter K, Brown JA, Wallace T, Spitz S. Firstline health care providers’ reported knowledge of and referrals
to speech-language pathologists for clients with mild traumatic
brain injury. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2021;30(5):2214–27.
3. Rodriguez E, Belan AFR, Radanovic M. Cognitive communication disorder following right hemisphere damage:
Narrative production. Cereb Circ-Cogn Behav. 2022;3:100147.
Biography: Lakshmi S. Kunnath is an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Speech and Hearing at Father Muller College,
Mangalore. She holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language
Pathology and has expertise in assessment and management of
speech, language, swallowing, and cognitive communication
disorders. She has published in Scopus-indexed journals,
including studies on transgender awareness, stuttering
prevalence, and cognitive communication disorders in nursing
professionals. With a passion for teaching and research, she has
presented papers at national conferences and continues to explore
the impact of exercise, dysphagia management, and learning
disabilities