Verbal reasoning refers to an individual’s ability to understand and reason with language. Rather than being a cognitive function, verbal reasoning is a skill. Verbal reasoning can be developed by performing different activities. This can involve reading, expanding one’s vocabulary, and creative writing. Because verbal reasoning relies on language, the left frontal hemisphere is primarily engaged along with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Other brain areas may be engaged depending on the task being performed such as the hippocampus and the temporal lobes on both hemispheres.
Verbal reasoning may be disrupted or delayed by different medical conditions or life events. In children, verbal reasoning impairments may occur as a result of being born with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, experiencing birth complications, traumatic brain injury, and seizures. In adults, verbal reasoning can be impaired after experiencing a stroke, having a brain injury, and developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Since children with verbal reasoning impairments may have difficulty with reading comprehension and other language tasks, there may be impairments of reasoning skills. For adults, neuropsychological assessments can be done to detect verbal reasoning impairment along with other comorbid neuropsychological deficits. Depending on the cause of verbal reasoning impairment, therapy may be effective in remediating verbal reasoning impairment.
Clinical providers can help patients improve their verbal reasoning abilities. One way clinical providers can work with their patients that have verbal reasoning impairment is to use computerized cognitive training tools. Tools such as HappyNeuron Pro allow clinical providers to design and develop customized exercise plans. This allows their patients to practice verbal reasoning skills. By performing consistent and intensive cognitive training under the guidance of a clinical provider, patients may improve their verbal reasoning abilities.
