University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: speech

Talking TBI: The Impact of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Cognitive Decline

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Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) like concussions are not uncommon, especially in children and older adults. These injuries can have both short-term and lasting effects on the brain, but what about their impact on cognitive function? Dr. Deling He of UW–Madison’s Cognitive-Communication in Aging and Neurogenic Disorders Laboratory (CCANDL) lab joins the podcast to discuss her research on the connections between TBI, speech pathology and cognition and what her study findings mean for people with a history of TBI.

Guest: Deling He, PhD, postdoctoral research associate, Cognitive-Communication in Aging and Neurogenic Disorders Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, UW–Madison

How Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists Support Cognitive Health

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When memory, thinking or communication changes begin, knowing where to turn for support can make all the difference. In this episode, we explore how two key health care specialties can help individuals and families meet those challenges with confidence. Sarah Gunderson, an occupational therapist, and Kari Esser, a speech-language pathologist, draw from their work supporting people experiencing a wide range of neurological conditions to walk us through the foundations of their specialties and their unique roles in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia care. Sarah and Kari also provide a preview of their upcoming talk, “Partnering with Your Healthcare Team,” as part of the 2025 Healthy Living with MCI education program.

Guests: Sarah Gunderson, OT, occupational therapist, UW Health, and Kari Esser, MS, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, UW Health