Cognitive Fatigue: The Overlooked Symptom in the Recovery of Acquired Brain Injury
Cognitive Fatigue: The Overlooked Symptom in the Recovery of Acquired Brain Injury
Understanding Cognitive Fatigue in ABI
Cognitive fatigue arises when the injured brain requires disproportionate effort to carry out even routine tasks. Activities such as concentrating in conversation, following instructions, or reading a document may leave an individual drained, despite minimal physical exertion. This symptom is particularly common following traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or brain tumours, yet it is frequently overlooked because it is not always visible to others.
Unlike general tiredness, cognitive fatigue does not always improve with rest. Instead, it reflects an imbalance between cognitive demand and the injured brain’s reduced processing capacity. This mismatch can create frustration, lower self-confidence, and exacerbate emotional difficulties such as anxiety or irritability.
The Neuropsychologist’s Role
Neuropsychologists play a central role in identifying and addressing cognitive fatigue. Through detailed neuropsychological assessments, they can pinpoint how fatigue interacts with memory, attention, and executive functioning. For example, some individuals may show good performance on tasks when fresh but demonstrate a marked decline as mental effort accumulates.
By recognising these patterns, neuropsychologists can design rehabilitation plans that are both realistic and person-centred. Understanding fatigue also informs broader clinical decisions, such as mental capacity assessments, where fluctuating attention and energy levels can influence outcomes.
Supporting Recovery Through Tailored Strategies
Neurocognitive rehabilitation for cognitive fatigue goes beyond advising rest. Instead, it focuses on practical strategies to help individuals manage their energy effectively and re-engage with everyday life. Interventions may include: planning techniques, environmental modifications, compensatory tools, psychoeducation for families/carers and collaboration other rehabilitation professionals in a multidisciplinary team.
Reframing Recovery Beyond Symptoms
Cognitive fatigue challenges the notion that recovery after ABI is only about regaining function. For many individuals, progress involves learning to adapt, conserve energy, and rebuild confidence within their new cognitive limits. Recognising fatigue as a genuine and measurable symptom validates these experiences and reduces the risk of mislabelling individuals as unmotivated or disengaged.
At The London Neurocognitive Clinic, we emphasise that recovery from acquired brain injury must address not only cognitive deficits but also the hidden barriers that impede progress. By integrating neuropsychological assessment with neurocognitive rehabilitation, we help individuals and their families understand and manage cognitive fatigue. This holistic, person-centred approach enables clients to rebuild independence, resilience, and wellbeing, ensuring that recovery is measured not just by what is restored, but by how meaningfully life can be lived.
