Despite increasing consumer utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and growing evidence of its positive effects on certain physical (e.g., chronic pain, insomnia) and psychiatric (e.g., anxiety) disorders, few empirical investigations have explored using CAM to treat neurogenic disorders of communication or cognition. Accordingly, to spur clinical and research interest in CAM, we review two forms of CAM, relaxation therapy and acupuncture, that have been used to address the needs of patients with neurogenic cognitive or communicative disorders. For each technique, we describe general therapy procedures, summarize and critique the extant research, and delineate areas in need of further empirical investigation.
KEYWORDS
Acupuncture - relaxation therapy - aphasia - dementia
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Laura MurrayPh.D.
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
Email: lmurray@indiana.edu
