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Send us Fan Mail The 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association is a major update to how we understand stroke rehabilitation, recovery, and long term care. This is a conversation about the evidence, the gaps, and what happens when stroke rehabilitation recommendations meet the people actually living them. In this episode of Brain Friends, Angie sits down with Dr. Lorie G. Richards, PhD, OTR/L, FAHA, occupational therapist, stroke rehabilitation researcher, and Chair of the 2026 Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guideline Writing Group, to unpack what the latest evidence says and what it means for stroke survivors, care partners, clinicians, and rehabilitation professionals. Dr. Richards discusses key topics including: • Stroke rehabilitation and neuroplasticity • Restoration versus compensation after stroke • Physical, cognitive, communication, and emotional recovery • Post stroke depression and mental health • Cognitive changes and cognitive fatigue after stroke • Aphasia, AAC, reading, writing, and communication support • Motor recovery and brain pathway damage • Caregiver education and support • Reassessment after formal rehabilitation ends • Insurance, access, and gaps in stroke rehabilitation services • Community reintegration, independence, work, and daily life after stroke • What stroke rehabilitation research still does not know The conversation also explores an important message from the new guideline: stroke recovery does not end when formal therapy ends. Rehabilitation can extend across the recovery continuum, with continued reassessment, support, and strategies that help people participate in everyday life. The 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Guideline From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association was published in Stroke. Learn more about Brain Friends, Neuroplasticity City, and Conference Voices at RiversSpeaking.com. This podcast is for education and discussion and is not medical advice. Talk with your physician or rehabilitation team about your individual care, not a random podcast  https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail A stroke doesn’t always arrive like a movie scene. Sometimes it shows up as a dragging leg, blurry vision, a face that won’t smile straight, or speech or language that suddenly changes. And the scariest part is that you may still feel “fine.” That’s why Angie sits down with  Nurse Karrima Owens, clinical nurse specialist and stroke program coordinator at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, known around West Philly as the Stroke Lady. Her message is simple and urgent: you don’t know what you don’t know, and when stroke symptoms appear, time matters. The conversation explores how stroke and brain injury can affect awareness, attention, memory, language, speech, judgment, and other cognitive functions, sometimes making it harder for a person to recognize what has changed. Nurse Karrima shares what she hears from patients and families every day, including the common misconception that a stroke must be painful or dramatic. They also talk about why stroke is often called a “brain attack,” why “time is brain,” and how recognizing symptoms quickly can change what happens next. You’ll leave with practical tools, including B.E. F.A.S.T. stroke warning signs: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. Nurse Karrima explains why even one sudden symptom is enough to call 911 and breaks down major stroke risk factors, including high blood pressure, smoking and vaping, diabetes, high cholesterol, irregular heart rhythms, sleep apnea, physical inactivity, and more. The episode also gets into what happens after the emergency, including Angie’s “discharge cliff,” stroke recovery resources, support groups, preparing questions for medical appointments, and simple ways to stay organized when reading or writing is difficult. If this episode helps you understand stroke a little better, subscribe to Brain Friends, share it with someone you love, and leave a review so more people can learn the signs before they need them. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail What does it actually mean to recover language after a stroke? Not just pass a test, but tell a story, hold a conversation, explain what happened to you at the airport. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brielle Stark, a neuroscientist and aphasia researcher at Indiana University Bloomington, to talk about discourse: the kind of language we use every day to describe our lives, our memories, and what matters to us. We dig into why standard aphasia tests miss so much of the real picture, what good home practice actually looks like (hint: easy is not the same as useful), and why the myth that recovery stops at six months needs to be retired for good. We also talk about primary progressive aphasia, what fatigue really means for a post-stroke brain, and why you have seen one person with aphasia, you have seen exactly one person with aphasia. Plus, Angie brings some receipts from her own story, including a pre-kindergarten math book, a crowded support group, and a very patient friend named Tay. This is a real conversation between a researcher and a survivor, and that is exactly the point. WHAT WE COVER What discourse is and why it matters more than any test you have been givenWhy aphasia is not just about language and why that framing has kept survivors from getting real helpWhat good home practice actually looks like, and why easy is not the same as usefulBrain fatigue: what it is, what triggers it, and why it is so underestimatedThe six-month recovery myth, and what the research actually showsWhy you have seen one person with aphasia, you have seen one person with aphasiaTopics covered: What discourse is and why it matters for real-world recoveryPrimary progressive aphasia versus stroke aphasia: different paths, different goalsWhy standard tests do not capture how people actually communicateWhat makes home practice worth your timeThe six-month recovery myth, and what the research actually showsBrain fatigue, what it is, what triggers it, and why it is so underestimatedWhy "aphasia doesn't affect intelligence" is incomplete and sometimes harmfulNeuroplasticity: what it means for stroke survivors and what it means for everyonehttps://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rachel Forman is a stroke neurologist at Yale School of Medicine. She treats stroke, researches it, and takes that knowledge into communities through Stamp Out Stroke -- sixty-plus events and counting. She recommends this podcast to her patients. In this conversation: blood pressure and why most people do not know they have a problem until something goes wrong. Why only one in five stroke survivors check their blood pressure correctly. The discharge cliff. Secondary stroke prevention and why finding the cause of your first stroke changes everything. Post-stroke depression as a clinical condition that worsens outcomes. The mental health gap for survivors with aphasia. Equity in stroke research and care. And the Smart Cookie: the one thing Dr. Forman would change about stroke care right now. Brain Friends: the podcast Every episode delivers stroke and aphasia science you can actually use. Hosted by Angie Cauthorn -- stroke survivor, aphasia advocate, and founder of ROSA, Resource Orientation for Stroke and Aphasia. Health education only. Not personal medical advice. Mental health crisis support: call or text 988. Stamp Out Stroke -- Yale Stroke and Vascular Neurology https://medicine.yale.edu/neurology/excellence/stampoutstroke/ AHA Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Guidelines https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home Find a Validated Blood Pressure Monitor https://www.validatebp.org SEQUINS -- Society for Equity Neuroscience https://www.s-equi-ns.org/ 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 https://988lifeline.org  National Aphasia Synergy -- Peer Befriending Program Founded and led by people with aphasia. Trish Hambridge,  [email protected]  https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail Two world-class researchers walked into this conversation because of one woman. They did not have to. They chose to.  Dr. Peter Turkeltaub is a neurologist at Georgetown University Medical Center. MD. PhD. He directs the Cognitive Recovery Lab, where his research focuses on the neural mechanisms of language recovery after stroke. He is Dr. Seles friend and co-author Dr. Charles Ellis Jr. holds a PhD and CCC-SLP certification and is a professor at the University of Florida, one of the most recognized authorities on equity in communication sciences in the country. He was her mentor. Neither of them does podcasts. Both of them showed up. First time on this mic. The paper is published in Aphasiology, the field's flagship peer-reviewed journal. Open access. Free. No paywall. That was a deliberate choice, and it was completely consistent with who Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson was. She was a neuroscientist and a speech-language pathologist simultaneously. That combination is rare. It is exactly why nobody else was going to write this paper. Eight concrete action points for SLPs working with Black stroke survivors with aphasia. Not aspirations. A clinical blueprint. Built from evidence and from the understanding that Black patients carry a specific history into every clinical encounter that changes what good care actually requires. Stroke does not see color. But your doctor does. Black patients face higher stroke incidence, earlier onset, greater severity, and lower rates of sustained rehabilitation. That is documented. That is structural. Dr. Seles Gadson named eight ways to change it. Dr. Ellis extends the framework live, adding a ninth point on the spot. The paper is already generating scholarship. This is not a tribute episode dressed up as science. This is science. The tribute is that she finished it. This is the blueprint  Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2025.2561681 Open access. Free. Search her name. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail A stroke can feel like a lightning strike on the brain’s power grid—which is why the new 2026 AHA/ASA acute ischemic stroke guidelines focus on speed, clarity, and better systems at every step. We sit down with the chair of the writing group, Dr. Sean Pabakaron, to translate cutting-edge research into actions families, clinicians, and first responders can take right now. No jargon, no fluff—just the signals to watch, the questions to ask, and the processes that save brain. We unpack what changed since the 2018–2019 updates and why more than 50 new trials reshaped the playbook for pre-hospital screening, ER imaging timelines, thrombolysis decision-making, and routing to thrombectomy-capable centers. You’ll learn how tools like FAST and the Cincinnati scale help paramedics identify strokes in the field, why regions now sometimes bypass closer hospitals, and how door-in, door-out time became a critical quality metric for transfers. Inside the ED, we outline the ideal sequence from stroke alert to scan within 25 minutes, to mixing tenecteplase or alteplase, to rapid consults for clot retrieval—because earlier treatment within extended windows still yields better outcomes. We also spotlight a major breakthrough: meaningful guidance for pediatric stroke. Kids present differently, the data are thinner, and the stakes are high. Dr. Prabhakaran explains when thrombolysis and thrombectomy can be considered in expert centers and how causes shift from congenital factors to post-viral arteriopathy or trauma as children age. We close with practical prevention: midlife blood pressure control, access to primary care, and the simple steps that protect cognition and reduce stroke risk over decades. If stroke touches your life—as a survivor, caregiver, clinician, or advocate—this conversation gives you a clear map for a faster, safer response. Listen, share with your circle, and help us spread actionable stroke knowledge. If you find this valuable, follow the show, leave a rating, and tell a friend who needs a smarter plan for brain health. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail A friendship became a movement when a survivor searching for culturally competent therapy met a clinician who refused to treat equity like an optional add-on. What started as a phone call turned into Brain Friends—a space where lived experience and rigorous science work side by side to make aphasia, stroke recovery, and neuroplasticity feel human, practical, and possible. We walk through the real story: how instant respect turned into a partnership, how roles formed—one voice translating from the trenches, the other anchoring with research—and how that rhythm made complex ideas usable for families, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. Then the pivot no one wanted: sudden loss. Grief shows up as silence, stalled projects, and episodes too tender to edit. Naming that pain opens a path forward. “Progress over perfection” becomes more than a motto; it’s a care strategy for speech attempts, therapy homework, and the messy edits that stay in the final cut to normalize real recovery. Legacy grounds the work. We highlight the scholarship honoring Dr.Seles Gadson, designed to fund equity-centered clinicians and researchers who center patient-reported outcomes and culturally responsive care. Scholarships don’t run on vibes, and support here turns memory into infrastructure—training, mentorship, and research that actually changes lives. Along the way, we talk about trust in healthcare, the realities Black women face in brain health systems, and why clear, simple language outperforms jargon when the brain is tired and the heart is full. We close with gratitude for a new advocacy award that carries responsibility, an audio message that still lights the room, and a promise to keep showing up for survivors, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs hope they can use, and help sustain the scholarship that keeps this legacy working. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us how you’re choosing progress over perfection today. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail Words don’t just disappear; sometimes the path to them does. We explore what aphasia really is—evidence of brain injury—and why that framing changes everything for survivors, caregivers, and clinicians. Instead of waiting at a broken bridge, we focus on building new routes: consent-based support, yes/no prompts, two-choice options, functional descriptions, and shared signals that turn help into partnership. The result is less pressure, more access, and conversations that actually include the person who’s fighting to be heard. We also dig into the messy truth of inconsistency. On one day, automatic phrases might show up on cue; on another, a simple sentence can stall. That doesn’t mean the thought is gone. Capacity rises and falls with fatigue, stress, speed, and noise. The wardrobe analogy makes it clear: the clothes are there, the drawers are jammed. So we shift the goal from perfect words to being understood—reframing success as clear meaning, not flawless speech. Along the way, we talk about when “take your time” helps and when it hurts, and how a quick reset like “let me say it another way” can unlock progress. Caregivers and clinicians will find pragmatic guidance for protecting dignity while improving outcomes: pace the exchange, reduce choices, offer help with consent, and respect “never mind” as triage, not attitude. We name the emotional weight too—grief and depression that often travel with aphasia—and offer a way forward grounded in partnership. If you suspect aphasia after a stroke or head injury, seek an evaluation and bring these tools to your team. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the conversation. Your support keeps this work moving and makes the path to language a little smoother for everyone. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail A face that slips, a word that won’t come, an arm that won’t lift—tiny moments that point to massive truths about how the brain works, heals, and sometimes declines. I invited Dr. Roy Hamilton, neurologist, neuroplasticity researcher, and one of the clearest teachers in our field, to help us untangle aphasia, dementia, and stroke with practical language and unforgettable analogies. We start by separating terms people often blend. Dementia isn’t just memory loss; it’s a progressive decline across thinking skills that eventually limits independence. Aphasia is a language disorder: after stroke it strikes suddenly and often improves over time, while in primary progressive aphasia it creeps in gradually and can ultimately meet criteria for dementia. Along the way, we explore why prior stroke raises future risk, how small vessel disease can silently chip away at cognition, and what high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking do to the brain’s “sprinkler system.” Then we get tactical. Dr. Hamilton breaks down ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke, how atrial fibrillation forms clots that travel to the brain, and why time is brain when speech slips or a face droops. Don’t sleep it off—modern teams can give clot‑busting drugs, thread catheters to dissolve or remove clots, and save language if you act fast. We spotlight neuroplasticity as the engine of recovery and show why practice is the original brain‑changing tool. We also share how non‑invasive brain stimulation—magnetic and electrical—aims to boost language networks in subacute stroke and help people with primary progressive aphasia hold on to communication longer. If you or someone you love is navigating aphasia—whether after a recent stroke or as language slowly changes—this conversation blends clarity, science, and hope. Share it with your circle, watch for FAST warning signs, and ask your care team about therapy intensity, prevention, and research options. If this helped you see the brain more clearly, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and pass it on to someone who needs it. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Seles shares her harrowing experience of being in Israel when war broke out in October, capturing both the fear of the situation and the remarkable perspective it gave her on American privilege. • Dr. Seles traveled to Israel with a church group of 60 people including her mother • She was baptized in the Jordan River by her childhood pastor who had originally baptized her 20+ years ago • Plans changed suddenly when they were redirected to Jerusalem due to a "developing situation" • They witnessed smoke in the distance as conflict began to escalate • The group had to evacuate to Jordan as airports closed and the situation worsened • Dr. Seles faced challenging experiences at border crossings related to her identity as a Black American woman • She and her mother (Ma Dukes) were separated onto different flights home due to limited evacuation options • The flight home was delayed due to airspace safety concerns, creating additional anxiety • The experience highlighted American passport privilege and the complex dynamics of race, gender, and religion in the region Stroke survivors may experience intensified seasonal depression and anxiety. Dr. Seles and Angie discuss how symptoms like winter blues that might have been a "five" before stroke can increase to a "seven" afterward, requiring additional management strategies. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail Hey Brain Friends, Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Seles is at the heart of today's episode. I'm sharing the original recording of our neuroplasticity episode from 2022 that didn't make the cut. We had so much fun recording this but when we went to edit, the levels were not good. updates to the platform, there is a fix now. LOL We explore the concept of neuroplasticity and its role in recovery and personal growth, infused with laughter and ice breakers! We had such a good time recording this, I hope you enjoy. I will be back on the mic when I can, right now I'm grieving my friend. So enjoy this gem. • Reflecting on the impact of Dr. Seles’s life  • Scholarships established in her name to promote health equity  • Understanding neuroplasticity and how the brain adapts  • Engaging in memory recall through an icebreaker  • Tips for incorporating playful activities to promote brain health  • The significance of consistency in practice during recovery  • How art and exercise can aid neuroplasticity  • The inspiring journeys shared by listeners and community members  We remind our Brain Friends to support the scholarships established to honor Dr. Seles and I encourage everyone to explore their websites for detailed information.   https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail In this brief episode of Brain Friends, Angie shares the devastating news of the passing of her beloved  friend and co-host, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, after a courageous battle with cancer. Dr. Seles, a brilliant and compassionate neuro nerd and speech-language pathologist, brought a unique blend of expertise and warmth to Brain Friends. Her insights and genuine concern for the aphasia community deeply resonated with listeners. Angie pays tribute to Dr. Seles's unwavering strength and grace throughout her illness. She reflects on the profound impact Dr. Seles had on her life and on the countless individuals whose lives were touched by her work. The episode also addresses the future of Brain Friends, honoring Dr. Seles's legacy by continuing to provide valuable information and support to the aphasia community.  We love, appreciate, and remember you, Dr. Seles. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brain Friends, we delve into the complexities of cognitive function and its disorders.  Angie shares her personal journey with cognitive impairment following a stroke, highlighting the challenges of aphasia and adapting to a "new normal."  Dr. Seles provides insights into the differences of cognitive testing, explaining why certain tests are designed for specific populations and the importance of normalized testing. What you'll learn: How strokes, TBIs, and dementia affect the brain differentlyLearn about the key indicators and testing differences that help diagnose cognitive impairments. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge for individuals facing cognitive challenges. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail  Language assessments after stroke are not all the same, and the type of test a clinician chooses directly affects what gets measured and what gets missed. This episode breaks down the difference between impairment-based assessments like the Western Aphasia Battery and participation-based assessments like the Communication Activities of Daily Living, and explains why that distinction matters for survivors. Dr. Seles walks through how aphasia intersects with cognition and why quality-of-life assessments belong in every evaluation. Angie shares the real benefits and challenges of completing language assessments from the survivor's side of the table. Dr. Seles closes with three concrete tips for speech-language pathologists supporting survivors with low social support and reduced quality of life. For SLPs, students, survivors, and care partners who want to understand what gets tested, what gets missed, and what good assessment actually looks like. In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss language assessments used in individuals with aphasia and acquired communication disorders.    Angie shares the benefits and challenges in completing language assessments and which type of assessment is beneficial to recovery.    Dr. Seles discusses the difference between impairment-based tests like the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and participation-based tests like the Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL).    Together we discuss the importance of quality-of-life assessments and how aphasia impacts cognition. Finally, Dr. Seles shares 3 tips for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) to help survivors navigate low social support and quality of life. https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brain Friends, we share a behind-the-scenes conversation between Angie and Dr. Seles on Anomia. Together we weigh the benefits of recognizing the different types of Anomia and the challenges with diagnosis.  Anomia is a fluent aphasia characterized by word-finding difficulty or the inability to name objects.  Should we classify Anomia differently? What can Speech-Language Pathologists and researchers do to better help survivors with Anomia? https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/ Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. We are committed to honoring her memory by continuing to push our field forward and fight for equitable services for all people with aphasia.