Cognition is a vital part of our working life. We use cognition to get to work on time, plan our day, follow instructions, process information, carry out learned tasks and attend to our work activities. We interpret, store and retrieve information, maintain our attention, carry out a number of tasks simultaneously, prioritise and filter out irrelevant stimulus.
As problems or challenges occur in our working lives we use cognition to work through these. We make judgements based on knowledge and experience, develop, apply, monitor and evaluate solutions and adjust as necessary to reach a satisfactory solution.
Perception of self, environment and how we interact within it is core to our normal functioning. Perception is an automatic process which allows us to make sense of the world around us and how we operate within it and includes such skills as visual perception, visual attention, spatial awareness, body positioning and perception of movement.
Many people who have had a stroke will face impairment of cognition or perception that will impact on their ability to carry out their job and cognitive deficits are found to be the most significant barrier to returning to work. (Tregor et al 2007).
Rosemary now takes longer to process information, which would impact on planning and activities in class.
Page last reviewed: 27 Feb 2020
