Three discourse profiles of closed-head-injury speakers: theoretical and clinical implications

This study examined the variation in narrative discourse production noted in an earlier report of 11 closed-head-injury (CHI) patients and 21 normal speakers. Measures of productivity (fluency), content, and cohesion for two narratives (one elicited visually and the other auditorily) were analysed for each CHI speaker. Three distinct discourse profiles emerged, categorized as follows: confused, impoverished, and inefficient. It is suggested that these data, although involving few subjects in each profile, have important theoretical and clinical implications. Most particularly, a treatment approach based on each discourse profile is presented.