Lisa Genova: "Left Neglected"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-31/lisa-genova-left-neglected
When a successful young woman suffers a traumatic brain injury, impairing her ability to perceive information coming from the left, she begins to pay more attention to the things in her life she has "left neglected."
Guests
Lisa Genova
holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University and is the author of New York Times bestselling novel, "Still Alice."
Comments
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I've read multipule childhood untreated concussions & head injuiries can become as significant as a TBI in adulthood. I have recently been diagnosed
with Bi-polar disorder, ADHD, OCD.
Might these new diagnoses have been residule effects of childhhod injuiry?
I am certain that in her training that Lisa Genova has learned about a very famous early case of brain injury. I wonder if she can talk a little bit about Fineas Gage and what is true/untrue about his case. It seems to speak to the amazing resilience of the brain and perhaps even to the relationship between the brain and the human spirit.
You may wish to read a brief account of Phineas Gage's story here:
http://brainmindinst.blogspot.com/2010/12/theory-of-mind-iii-emotions.html
The astounding fact remains that he survived his injury with in our modern eyes minimal medical assistance.
As an occupational therapist specializing in unusual treatment for those with brain injury, I have found a very interesting intervention for people with strokes, TBI , anxieties, and visual distortions called Irlen Method in which a careful assessment is done with thousands of combinations of color spectral filters. The tinted lenses are unique to the person and calm down the visual system and allow the brain and messages via the mind, body connect to work more effectively and efficiently. SPECT scans done by the Amen Clinic have shown immediate benefits in calming down stress symptoms , which are often the cause of much of the transmission difficulties in the brain and nervous system. I hope Diane Rehm will have Helen Irlen the creator of the IRlen Method on her show as a fastenating continuation of the important topic and effective , research based interventions that can provide profound relief and function. www.IrlenVLCMD.com and www.Irlen.com
I have an adult daughter and she has a 12 son both have classic add. They both to do not to see things on the floor, table etc. to an extreme such as.........videos, books, important papers, mail as well as trash and clothes. They also has disgraphica. Is it possible this is the same part brain that is effected?
Betty,
Miami, Fl
Is using the Bluetooth system in your car the same with the earpiece Bluetooth as far as your brain reacts externally and to the conversation?
Since this disability affects vision on the left side, has anyone developed a pair of glasses that uses a small camera to capture the left side image and reconstitute the entire 180 degree image, somewhat squeezed on a small screen that could be seen on the right side?
My sister suffered a severe head injury 20 years ago. While she does not have left neglect, her recovery has been hampered by what her psychologist termed "psychological overlay." Can this be an issue with left neglect as well?
And thank you for "Still Alice" and "Left Neglected"!
My sister suffered a severe head injury 20 years ago. While she does not have left neglect, her recovery has been hampered by what her psychologist termed "psychological overlay." Can this be an issue with left neglect as well?
And thank you for "Still Alice" and "Left Neglected"!
Thanks for another terrific book, Lisa. My husband Alan suffered a severe brain injury from lack of oxygen during a cardiac arrest. Alan went from being a physics professor to being a brain injury survivor fighting to learn to read, write, walk, talk, think, and remember. With intensive rehab and daily practice with me for years, Alan did regain his essential abilities to varying degrees. It can give others hope to know that Alan continued to make progress in specific areas for three years.
Alan had to grieve the self he could never return to being before he could go on to compose a new identity he was proud to own. Like Sarah, we treasured life's simple pleasures as big accomplishments after brain injury. My identity had to change as well to allow us to build a new kind of marriage and purposeful life.
Janet Cromer
Author of Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couple's New Life after Brain Injury
www.janetcromer.com
Re. the question why pathways to the hemispheres are crossed:
During a period of nerve cell connection excuberance early in brain development, crossed and uncrossed nerve cell connections co-exist. Most of the uncrossed connections are subsequently pruned away. The strengthening and pruning of nerve cell connections depends on their use and our experiences. There must be a use and experience-related advantage of strengthening the crossed ones. Notably, because of this brain plasticity hemispherectomies in very young children do not lead to devastating losses of function.
Read more here:
http://brainmindinst.blogspot.com/2009/04/hemispherectomies-brain-plasti...
As a Psychologist with extensive post-Doctoral training in Neurofeedback and Biofeedback, I would like to offer 2 thoughts.
First, a work-around for neglect, which was shared with me by a mentor years ago after his wife suffered a major stroke on her left side. She was subsequently bumping into walls, furniture, etc. that were in her right field of vision. He taught he to scan her head right to left constantly in order to pick up with her left field of vision, objects to her right.
Second, he had her undergo numerous sessions of neurofeedback training (brainwave biofeedback) which helped her to make gains beyond what she had accomplished in a 'traditional' rehabilitation facility.
She subsequently also wrote a book about her experience:
"My Exciting Stroke", by Mary Deits.
D, luv your show with Lisa.
Being a 2 time brain injured individual with seizures, I am always seeking information to assist me in understanding what has and is happening to me, though on the outside, I look normal to others! My wonderful neurologist assisted me in recovering the immediate traumas, but I have found that healing is a long term process that includes my daily battle to fit back into the "normal" world. I am now teaching at the college level which requires me to push even harder to make this brain stay ahead of the young students I work with...I am determined to make my brain excel once again!
Diane, love listening to your programs. Left neglect is a fascinating topic; I felt that the one caller who had a question about why the left part of the brain affects the right and vice versa, did not get the answer she requested.The main reason is because of the way our vision works. Here's a link that explains why we have evolved with the bilateral nervous system.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091030080008AAvNnlt
Diane, I wish other talk show hosts were as empathetic to their guests as you are. I am so impressed with your sincere responses and relevant questions that never trample on the guest's apportioned time to respond.
Now that I've discovered I can listen on my computer as well as my car radio, I will be here listening as often as I can!
What if your body has physically healed but your brain failed to recognize that you improved. The result is that you will continue to experience symptoms that do not benefit your wellbeing. This is because your brain is instinctively responding to an illness, injury or trauma that is not even present. I specialize in treating nonstructural brain injury similar to left neglected individuals. See for yourself at Amazingtreatment.com and view the before and after videos concerning stroke, fibromyalgia, tics, neuropathy, and loss of movement. If you want to read further on how you can diagnose and overcome such nonstructural brain injury, please read the book, OVERCOME WHAT YOUR BRAIN CANNOT, on amazon.com. if you suffer from left sided brain injury i would be happy to discuss it further with you. I would deeply appreciate the opportunity to further discuss this topic with Mrs. Genova. drrichardherman@gmail.com