Search

In this video, Beth Hansen, PT, DPT, explains how rehabilitation teams assess pain, stress, and tolerance during therapy for people with disorders of consciousness. Beth describes how therapists closely monitor vital signs, facial expressions, muscle tone, and condition‑specific pain scales to understand how a patient is responding to treatment. She ...

In this video, Beth Hansen, PT, DPT, explains how rehabilitation teams support communication as patients begin to emerge from a disorder of consciousness. Beth describes how therapists look for consistent, purposeful behaviors—such as command following or object identification—and build on them to establish reliable yes/no communication. She shares practical strategies, including ...

In this video, Beth Hansen, PT, DPT, explains the vital role families play in helping communication emerge for people recovering from a disorder of consciousness. Beth describes how familiar voices, faces, and routines often help elicit consistent, meaningful responses that clinical staff may not see right away. By observing behaviors during ...

In this video, Caitlin Hebb, MT‑BC, explains how neurologic music therapy supports recovery for people with disorders of consciousness by stimulating arousal, awareness, speech, and movement. Caitlin describes how music can help elicit early vocalizations, encourage verbal response, and support motor recovery through rhythmic cues. By using predictable rhythm and melody, ...

In this video, Beth Hansen, PT, DPT, explains why objective data is essential in rehabilitation for people with disorders of consciousness. Beth describes how structured data tracking helps clinicians move beyond anecdotal observations to clearly measure progress, consistency, and emerging communication. By monitoring reliable behaviors—such as yes/no responses—and using standardized tools ...

In this video, Gail Strom, mother of Hannah, shares her personal experience navigating the emotional ups and downs of a loved one’s recovery from a disorder of consciousness. Gail describes the recovery process as a roller coaster, marked by progress, setbacks, and uncertainty. She reflects on how staying grounded, finding moments ...

In this video, Joseph Giacino, PhD, explains how specialized inpatient rehabilitation helped uncover the cause of Hannah’s slow language recovery after a disorder of consciousness. Dr. Giacino describes how systematic, long‑term evaluation revealed a gap between Hannah’s behavioral recovery and her ability to understand and produce speech. Through advanced imaging and ...

In this video, Joseph Giacino, PhD, explains why many people with disorders of consciousness struggle to access specialized inpatient rehabilitation—despite having significant potential for recovery. Dr. Giacino describes how U.S. policy requirements, including the “three‑hour rule” (which requires patients to actively participate in three hours of therapy per day), often exclude ...

In this video, Beth Hansen, PT, DPT, explains what families should look for when choosing an inpatient rehabilitation program for someone with a disorder of consciousness. Beth highlights the importance of facilities with brain injury–specific expertise, a standardized approach to this patient population, and access to specialized treatments such as casting, ...

In this video, Hannah Strom shares her journey from surviving a traumatic brain injury to helping others recover as a rehab aide. Hannah reflects on how far she has come—from months in inpatient rehabilitation to working full days alongside the therapists who once helped her heal. She describes how her lived ...

Recovering from Disorders of Consciousness follows the powerful true story of Hannah Strom, a young woman who survived a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spent weeks in a disorder of consciousness. Through her journey—and the experiences of patients, families, and clinicians—this video explores how consciousness can slowly return, why ...

Hannah’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Journey Hannah is a traumatic brain injury survivor whose life was transformed in 2020 after sustaining a severe TBI in the Holy Cross rowing van accident in Florida. The journey that followed demanded resilience, patience, and the courage to rebuild her identity while navigating cognitive, physical, ...

¿Qué es la ansiedad? La ansiedad es una respuesta normal cuando uno se enfrenta situaciones estresantes o cambios en la vida. Es una sensación de preocupación o miedo de que un evento, amenaza o situación se haga realidad. La ansiedad a veces puede ser útil al empujarnos a cambiar nuestro comportamiento ...

Going home after inpatient rehabilitation can be a challenge for many people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and those close to them. It is good for you and your family to start planning as early as you can to help make this transition as easy and effective as possible. What Do I Need to ...

The Neuro Assistance Foundation (NAF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals living with spinal cord injury and disability in achieving independence and mobility. Serving the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and Greater Houston areas, NAF provides essential support when insurance coverage and personal resources fall short. The foundation helps individuals ...

Karen Stull’s Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Journey Prior to her role as Executive Director of the Neuro Assistance Foundation, Karen spent 20 years in direct patient-facing care as a speech-language pathologist. She began her career providing clinical services and advanced to Clinical Specialist at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation. ...