Monitoring and insight
skills enable people to think about, evaluate and anticipate the
consequences of their actions. Sometimes these skills are affected
by a brain injury.
What are monitoring and
insight skills?
There are a collection of
cognitive, or thinking, skills that are often discussed as a group
and called 'higher level thinking skills' or 'executive functions'. These skills include
monitoring and insight. These skills help people
to reflect, evaluate and anticipate the consequences of their
actions so they can work effectively and interact appropriately
with others.
Examples of problems with
monitoring and insight
The following list outlines
some of the common difficulties that could indicate problems in this area. These difficulties would tend to be seen on an everyday basis.
The child or young person:
- produces work
that has a number of mistakes, or appears to have been
completed in a careless manner
- monopolises conversations
- keeps talking when others
are no longer interested
- doesn't have an awareness of
limitations or difficulties they are experiencing, either physical or
cognitive
- has unrealistic goals,
plans or expectations
What strategies might
help?
- Encourage the child or young person to regularly check their work, and to make this a routine step when doing
tasks.
- Agree upon a signal which
indicates it is time to stop talking.
- Encourage taking turns in
conversations.
- Have external aides which
illustrate ongoing performance on different tasks.
- Gently remind the person of their difficulties and limitations.
- Explain the positive and
negative effects of certain actions.
- Work through possible
consequences that can occur in different types of
situations.
When to see a doctor?
Difficulties with
monitoring and insight, as well as other cognitive difficulties,
are formally identified by having a neuropsychological assessment.
A neuropsychologist can help develop compensatory
and management strategies that are suitable for each individual
child and their particular cognitive strengths and weaknesses. A
clinical psychologist may also be able to provide individual
strategies to help a child or adolescent cope with monitoring and
insight problems.
Key points to
remember
- Monitoring and insight belong to a group of
skills that are often referred to as higher level thinking skills or executive
functions.
- There are strategies that can be used
to help children who have poor monitoring and insight.
- Difficulties with monitoring and insight are
formally identified in a neuropsychological assessment.
For more
information
Developed by The Royal Children's
Hospital Paediatric Rehabilitation Service based on information from the Brain
Injury Service at Westmead Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of RCH
consumers and carers.
Reviewed September 2020.
Kids Health Info is supported by
The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.