Memory and thinking exercises after a stroke or brain injury

Strategies first, then practice

Two kinds of help work together. Strategies work around a difficulty so daily life runs more smoothly now. Practice builds skills over time. Most people need both.

Strategies that help many people:

• One calendar, kept in one place, for appointments and plans. A paper calendar on the fridge or one shared phone calendar both work.
• Phone alarms and reminders for medication, appointments and daily tasks.
• Routines: the same order every morning, keys and wallet always in the same bowl.
• Written checklists for multi-step tasks, such as leaving the house or making a meal.
• A quieter environment: turn off the TV during conversations and do one thing at a time.

What to practice, by area

What the evidence says about brain training

People almost always get better at the exercises they practice. The harder question is whether that improvement carries over to everyday life, and the evidence there is mixed. A large review of cognitive rehabilitation research supports training attention combined with strategy training, and teaching memory strategies such as external aids. It recommends computer-based exercises as a supplement to therapist-guided treatment rather than as the only treatment.

In practice, that means choosing exercises close to real goals (following directions, handling money, managing time), pairing them with the strategies above, and involving a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist or neuropsychologist where possible.

Memory and thinking practice in Parrot Software

Parrot Software is used after stroke and after traumatic brain injury. Alongside its language programs, it includes:

• Attention and memory: Concentration, Listening Skills, Multi-tasking, Visual Attention Training, Remembering Spoken Numbers, Remembering Spoken Directions and Remembering Written Directions.
• Reasoning: Problem Solving, Cause and Effect, Deductive Reasoning, Logical Thinking, Flexible Thinking and Situational Reasoning.
• Everyday skills: Making Change for Money, Time Management, Cooking Time Management and Traffic Signs, which put thinking skills to work on real-life tasks.

These are among 94 programs, and a therapist or family member can choose the ones that match the person’s goals. The first week is free, with no credit card. For language difficulties, see speech therapy after a stroke.

Common questions

Do brain training games improve memory after a brain injury?

The evidence is mixed. People usually get better at the exercises they practice, but that improvement does not always carry over to everyday life. Practice works best when the tasks are close to real goals, such as following directions, managing money or keeping track of time, and when it is combined with strategies and guidance from a therapist.

What is the difference between a strategy and an exercise?

An exercise practices a skill, such as holding a list of numbers in mind. A strategy works around a difficulty, such as writing appointments on a calendar or setting a phone reminder. Most people need both: strategies to manage daily life now, and practice to build skills over time.

How long should a session be?

Short sessions are best, especially early on, because fatigue is very common after a brain injury. Fifteen to twenty minutes, with breaks, is a reasonable starting point. Stop when concentration fades rather than pushing through.

Who can help plan cognitive rehabilitation?

Speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and neuropsychologists all work on thinking skills after a stroke or brain injury. They can test which skills are affected and set goals that matter for the person's daily life.

Is Parrot Software only for aphasia?

No. Parrot Software is also used by people recovering from traumatic brain injury and other acquired brain injuries. It includes programs for attention, memory, reasoning and everyday skills such as money and time, as well as language.