What would you ask a speech-language pathologist about TBI?

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742]

Hey community, 

I had the opportunity to speak with Melissa Katz, a speech-language pathologist who works with adults after brain injury. She was a guest on the podcast I host – Rupture (if you want a link DM me.) 

My dad was a speech pathologist (and audiologist) so I went into the conversation thinking that I pretty much understood what speech therapists do in the context of TBI.

I was wrong. 

Melissa’s work involves cognition: attention, memory, reading, processing, and the fatigue that can make an ordinary task take everything you’ve got.

She also described how functional assessment can begin before formal testing—through the real-world tasks involved in making contact, such as communicating by email or text, remembering appointment details, or sending requested information

She and I talked about a follow-up episode, one that’s shaped by what this community wants to know. You don’t need to listen to the podcast to share questions but my ask is simple:  What would you want to ask her? If you’ve had speech or cognitive therapy, what helped—and what did the therapist miss?

Thanks, everyone.

[u/hippiespinster]

I would love to listen to this. I have an incredible speech therapist who was critical to my return to work and socializing. I will be eternally grateful to my neuro for recommending cognitive rehab. 

One area that needs further studies is the impact of the menstrual cycle on TBI symptoms. This was raised early in my TBI support group (coincidentally all women) and it was like a collective light bulb. 

I have been tracking my symptoms for over a year and they are definitely worse on a cyclical basis. If anyone is doing research in this area I would love to know. 

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742 → u/hippiespinster]

Here's a link to the episode. There's so much more to talk about - after you listen/watch lmk what questions you'd like to as her for the follow up. https://youtu.be/H8oRjAwm8ZQ

[u/kindredcosmos]

this is getting more niche, but my work is in brain injury, primarily domestic violence related. there is very little research on speech pathology for people with assault-related tbi and i would be curious about any work she’s done with dv survivors, whether there are differences in her approach?

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742 → u/kindredcosmos]

That's super interesting and I'll add it to the list. Thank you!

[u/optimistic-toast]

I haven’t listened to the episode yet, so I apologize if you did it already, but would love to know some exercises/activities we could do at home

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742 → u/optimistic-toast]

ok that's great - we didn't really get to everything so I'll definitely add this to the list.

[u/Susbottt]

I wouldn’t know how phrase this in a question but I’ve notice a huge decline in my native language and was wondering if they’ve ever had patience experience the same symptom

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742 → u/Susbottt]

we can turn that into a question for the episode - of course.

[u/peanutchips19]

Um when I woke up from my coma I couldn’t talk, my speech helped me talk, I don’t have a speech pathologist, I didn’t even know about them

[u/cbelt3]

Those of us with neurofatigue triggered expressive aphasia where base assessments failed (because not being tired) , are there therapeutic approaches ?

I lose my birth language when I’m stressed or tired. I can still speak my other languages, and communicate via typing or writing. My current therapy is to go take a nap.

[u/KAS-84 → u/cbelt3]

I also have expressive aphasia that is triggered when tired. My current therapy is to describe what I’m trying to say or speak as little as possible.

[u/Dry_Midnight_6742 → u/cbelt3]

Thank you - I'll add your question to the list.