25. The 3 R's: Promoting Reasoning, Real-Life Function, and Resilience in Adolescents with TBI

Speaker: Lori Cook, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Session Handout:
Presentation Slides

Session Description:
Adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have a variety of cognitive-communication deficits and dynamic needs across the continuum of recovery, due to ongoing development and increasing cognitive demands, that can make generalization of skills from one context to another challenging. The goal of this session is to describe some evidence-based approaches for the assessment and remediation of later-emerging cognitive deficits after pediatric brain injury. The presentation will focus on novel approaches, such as strategy-based reasoning training, and technology applications that offer promise in the characterization and remediation of real-life challenges for youth with brain injury in the longer term. An emphasis will be placed on forward-thinking applications to maximize learning potential and higher-order cognitive skills (e.g., executive functioning, social cognition, resilience-building, etc.) as well as lifelong brain health; including practical tips, case study examples, and opportunities for questions and group discussion.

Credits: Act 48, ASHA, Psych
Audience: Special Education Teachers, Teachers/other professionals who work with students who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, Speech therapists, Occupational Therapists and/or Physical Therapists, School Counselors and/or School Psychologists, Parents, Guardians, Family Members

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Lori Cook currently serves as the Director of Clinical Research for the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas. A licensed speech-language pathologist, she is also a senior clinician for the Center’s translational programs as well as an adjunct assistant professor for UTD’s School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. In her roles as both a clinician and research scientist, she has focused largely on research investigating the long-term recovery of youth after brain injury, including recent work supporting youth athletes with persistent effects of concussion. She now also heads up research efforts for the Center’s landmark initiative, The BrainHealth Project.
Bringing a curiosity for the developing brain as well as two decades of child and adolescent-centered research experience at the Center for BrainHealth. Dr. Cook is passionate about translating cutting-edge research discoveries into practical tools to educate, empower, and equip students of all ages and levels to reach their highest brain potential.

Email: lori.cook@utdallas.edu