Multiparty Communication: A New Direction in Characterizing the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Social Communication

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this viewpoint is to advocate for increased studcommon ground and audience design processes in multiparty communicatin traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: Building on discussions at the 2024 International Cognitive-CommunicatDisorders Conference, we review common ground and audience design pcesses in dyadic and multiparty communication. We discuss how the difprofiles of neural and cognitive deficits place individuals with TBI at increrisk for keeping track of who knows what in group settings and using knowledge to flexibly adapt their communication behaviors. Results: We routinely engage in social communication in groups of thremore people at work, school, and social functions. While academic, vocatioand interpersonal domains are all areas where individuals with TBI are at risnegative outcomes, we know very little about the impact of TBI on groumultiparty, communication. Conclusions: The empirical study of common ground and audience design multiparty communication in TBI presents a promising new direction in chaterizing the impact of TBI on social communication, uncovering the underlmechanisms of cognitive-communication disorders, and may lead to new inventions aimed at improving success in navigating group communication work and school, and in interpersonal relationships.