Speech Language Pathology / en #UofTGrad19: Meet rehabilitation science's newest graduates /news/uoftgrad19-meet-rehabilitation-science-s-newest-graduates <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad19: Meet rehabilitation science's newest graduates</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/group-photo_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G8uW9TuG 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/group-photo_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nGJS3bpN 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/group-photo_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SPzt9ibj 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/group-photo_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G8uW9TuG" alt="Photo montage of the graduates of rehabilitation sciences program"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-05T00:00:00-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Tue, 11/05/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Clockwise from top left: Mary Boulos, Thi-Ut Nguyen, Daniela Chok, Janany Jeyasundaram, Sahar Panju and Sanjana Shellikeri</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/ciara-parsons" hreflang="en">Ciara Parsons</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rehabilitation-sciences-institute" hreflang="en">Rehabilitation Sciences Institute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/occupational-therapy" hreflang="en">Occupational Therapy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/physical-therapy" hreflang="en">Physical Therapy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/speech-language-pathology" hreflang="en">Speech Language Pathology</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div>Newly minted graduates of rehabilitation sciences programs at the şüŔęĘÓƵ will walk across the stage at Convocation Hall on Tuesday to receive their degrees. The Faculty of Medicine’s <strong>Ciara Parsons&nbsp;</strong>asked soon-to-be alumni of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute to&nbsp;share why they are passionate about their fields and what drives their professional and academic work.&nbsp;</div> <div><br> Here are their responses:</div> <div> <hr> <h4><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Thi-Ut.jpg" alt="Portrait of Thi-Ut Nguyen"></h4> <h4>Thi-Ut Nguyen<br> Master of Science in Physical Therapy</h4> <p>I worked as a personal support worker with a 54-year-old patient who was involved in a horrific car accident. When I started working with him, he was at five months post-injury. He had a tracheostomy and a gastrotomy tube. He was fully dependent for bed mobility and transferred via a lift. I worked with him for a period of one year. By the time he was discharged, he was walking and moving about independently with a walker.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div>Witnessing his extraordinary recovery journey sparked my interest in physical therapy. I was impressed by the impact early intensive physical therapy has on neuro-motor rehabilitation and I was fascinated by the concept of movement as medicine. Determined to pursue a career as a physiotherapist, I went from being a working mother with no high school degree, to being accepted into the transitional year program at the şüŔęĘÓƵ and I never looked back.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I think it’s important to continue to set goals that are almost dreams for my own personal growth.&nbsp;</div> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Mary.jpg" alt="Portrait of Mary Boulos"></p> <h4>Mary Boulos<br> Master of Science, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4> <p>One of the most memorable moments of my program was working with the Fred Victor agency in Toronto. Our lab’s clinical arm, the Telerehab Centre for Acquired Brain Injury, strived to provide neuropsychology services to individuals in the justice system experiencing brain injury and mental illness. There is an incredibly high prevalence of brain injury in the justice system; however, access to neuropsychology services is almost non-existent.&nbsp;</p> <p>By collaborating with Fred Victor, we were able to begin addressing this gap by connecting clients with neuropsychology services and raising awareness of the need for services and support during the justice process. Having the opportunity to advocate for increased awareness and support of brain injury through presentations to clinicians, judges&nbsp;and lawyers has inspired me to continue advocacy work throughout my career.</p> <p>Now, as a first-year medical student at McMaster University, I hope to bring forward the lessons I learned from the individuals I worked with during my [master of science]&nbsp;training at the şüŔęĘÓƵ and continue advocating for increased access to mental health care, home care&nbsp;and assisted living supports for patients across Canada.</p> <div><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Sanjana.jpg" alt="Portrait of Sanjana Shellikeri"></div> <h4>Sanjana Shellikeri<br> Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute – speech-language pathology stream program</h4> <div>My mother was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral aclerosis (ALS) in 2010 and passed away in March 2019. I met <strong>Yana Yunusova</strong> through my mother in 2012, as she was a research participant in one of her speech studies. I was a recent undergraduate in neuroscience at the time and was very interested in contributing to the medical field. Although I didn’t have much knowledge in speech-language pathology, I was drawn to the idea of research in a disease that was so close to my heart. After meeting Yunusova and learning about her work, I knew this line of research would be a great fit for me.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I hope to follow the academic path as an independent investigator and contribute research to the study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease&nbsp;and other dementias. I am currently pursuing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Frontotemporal Degeneration Center and aspire to improve the lives of people with neurodegenerative conditions and work towards a real-world impact.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Daniella.jpg" alt="Portrait of Daniela Chok"></div> <h4>Daniela Chok<br> Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology&nbsp;</h4> <p>As social beings, a person’s quality of life can be drastically affected by their ability to effectively express themselves and understand others’ messages. I was attracted to the speech-language pathology program because I wanted to work with people with communication disorders to enhance their quality of life. This is a rewarding field where I can work with others to establish and maintain meaningful relationships.</p> <div>Through completing this program, I have learned that every situation and person is unique. As speech-language pathologists, we need to keep in mind both the diagnoses we are working to address and the patients themselves. Two people with the same diagnosis may have very different clinical presentations. The ability to integrate my classroom knowledge while recognizing the person’s unique situation is the beauty of balancing the art and science that exists within this field.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Jay.jpg" alt="Portrait of Janany Jeyasundaram"></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <h4>Janany Jeyasundaram<br> Master of Science in Occupational Therapy&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4> <div>As the daughter of refugees, I have a strong sense of being between two worlds&nbsp;–&nbsp;the world of my parents in their homeland, which I have imbibed and internalized, and the world I was born into, where I do not fully belong. I have witnessed legacies of trauma both in my personal circles and in my role as an occupational therapy student. Throughout my occupational therapy education, I actively sought opportunities to further my understanding of equity and move the profession towards greater inclusion of vulnerable populations.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>As a contextually situated practice, occupational therapy can advance healing work that benefits both individuals and communities. For many culturally diverse populations, individual healing is contingent upon the healing of families and communities. My occupational therapy education challenged me to reflect on client values by developing a greater appreciation for interdependence and interconnectedness. I feel better equipped to disrupt the notion of self-care in the traditional sense and expand our understanding of what it means for vulnerable populations to collectively heal from histories of trauma.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Sahar_800x450.jpg" alt="Portrait of Sahar Panju"></div> <h4>Sahar Panju<br> Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology&nbsp;</h4> <div>Through the speech-language pathology program, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a good clinical therapist, but,&nbsp;more importantly, what it takes to be a good partner in care, as there is so much more to rehabilitation than just therapy. Being present for what is happening in a person’s life, beyond their impairment, has been an incredibly valuable lesson, both personally and professionally.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>As a graduate of the program, I hope to continue to add to the foundation I’ve built and grow as a clinician. I recognized that one of the most important aspects of being a clinical therapist is to remain flexible and make yourself available to understanding new and sometimes challenging ideas. With the profession changing on a daily basis, continuing education is especially important. The program may have finished, but my education certainly hasn’t.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 05 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 160312 at Black History Month: What's your advice for the next generation in the Faculty of Medicine? /news/black-history-month-what-s-your-advice-next-generation-faculty-medicine <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Black History Month: What's your advice for the next generation in the Faculty of Medicine?</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/20190111-Ikran%20Ali-3I8A9119-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UjOViRLP 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/20190111-Ikran%20Ali-3I8A9119-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=poUQtqW4 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/20190111-Ikran%20Ali-3I8A9119-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=wF-B_4hZ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/20190111-Ikran%20Ali-3I8A9119-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UjOViRLP" alt="Portrait of Ikran Ali"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>davidlee1</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-02-13T12:36:52-05:00" title="Wednesday, February 13, 2019 - 12:36" class="datetime">Wed, 02/13/2019 - 12:36</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Don't be afraid to reach out, advises Ikran Ali, a master's of science candidate in the Institute of Medical Science at U of T (all photos by Julia Soudat)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/julia-soudat" hreflang="en">Julia Soudat</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-history-month" hreflang="en">Black History Month</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-medical-science" hreflang="en">Institute of Medical Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/speech-language-pathology" hreflang="en">Speech Language Pathology</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For Black History Month, the şüŔęĘÓƵ's Faculty of Medicine asked members of its community to share their advice for the next generation of Black students who are interested in clinical or research careers.&nbsp;</p> <p>Here's what they said.</p> <hr> <h3>Josiah Osagie<br> &nbsp;<br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10181 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20171128-Josiah%20Osagie-3I8A7736-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p><em><strong>Josiah Osagie</strong> is a fourth-year student in the MD Program.</em></p> <p>The first and most important thing is to recognize the validity of your desire to become something in this world. You must have noticed by now that not many people in your classes – students and professors – look like you. Do not let this dissuade you. Connect with students who are like-minded and as driven as you are. It is vital to surround yourself with people that push you to be better. Take advantage of the resources available to you, for they are abundant.</p> <p>It is essential to engage authentically with the community around you: join a student association, volunteer at a library, advocate for something you care about. Don't do so simply for your CV or medical school application –&nbsp;although these are important&nbsp;–&nbsp;but because connecting with community enriches you. It gives value to your life and purpose to your work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Finally, be bold. You are capable, intelligent and industrious. Go forth and show it to the world.</p> <h3>Diandra Benjamin<br> <br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10185 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190125-Diandra%20Benjamin%20-3I8A9593-2-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p><em><strong>Diandra Benjamin </strong>is a Master of Health Science candidate in the department of speech-language pathology.</em></p> <p>Growing up in the Caribbean, I observed that a career in health care typically translated to the traditional careers of “nurse” or “doctor” – rewarding professions in and of themselves. As I began to consider a career in health care, I ran the risk of being pigeon-holed. Through the years, I have come to know the incredible range of health-care careers that tap into various personalities, interests, and client populations. I encourage those considering health care as a career option to venture into the unknown!</p> <p>How? The value of networking cannot be understated. Networking is an opportunity to build connections with professionals in your field and tap into opportunities that are simply amiss in the classroom. One of the additional benefits of networking is finding a mentor: someone that has stood in your shoes and can offer support to help you scale the ladder to success.</p> <p>In my experience, I have also observed that Black students in health fields are sorely underrepresented. Truth be told, you may find yourself to be the only one that looks like you. At its surface, this can be an unsettling reality. However, be assured that your presence is of value; your voice is of value. Diversity fosters open dialogue between people of many different backgrounds to yield enriching educational experiences.</p> <p>I will always remember the moment a little girl at my clinical placement beamed and said, “you have the same skin as me!” To this day, I cannot fully appreciate what the simple observation meant to her, but I can appreciate that my presence was meaningful – and that I will always treasure.</p> <h3>Ikran Ali</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10182 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190111-Ikran%20Ali-3I8A9136-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em><strong>Ikran Ali </strong>is a master's of science candidate in the Institute of Medical Science.</em></p> <p>Seek out research opportunities (research positions, scholarships, grants, funding) as soon as you can. Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors, mentors and other students for advice or guidance. People&nbsp;are usually willing to help&nbsp;–&nbsp;a simple email can take you a long way. Also, don’t be too shy to follow up. Sometimes people are busy and forget to get back to you or they missed your email.</p> <p>Make sure you volunteer and join committees to meet other people and learn about events or programs that can help you excel in your career.</p> <h3>Tarimobo Otobo</h3> <h3><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10184 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190116-Tarimobo%20Otobo-3I8A9401-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p><em><strong>Tarimobo Otobo </strong>is a master's of science candidate in the Institue of Medical Science.&nbsp;</em></p> <p>Fundamentally, you will have to love your choice. Challenges are unavoidable in any chosen career and at difficult times, your passion will be the source of resilience. Your personal interest and desire&nbsp; expertise because of your interest and passion for inquiry and ingenuity to add to the body of knowledge.</p> <p>All facets of medical sciences are important and complementary. A successful career will be dependent on how successful you become in your chosen area of expertise because of your interest and passion for inquiry and ingenuity to add to the body of knowledge.</p> <p>Most important&nbsp;– and perhaps often neglected – is the leadership and mentorship you receive. In my career experience, I have seen promising dreams being threatened by challenging mentorship and leadership, and unpropitious personalities excelling in their career because of good mentorship and leadership. Therefore, I can’t emphasize enough the need to identify a mentor early on as a role model and explore possibilities of mutual benefits and compatibility.</p> <p>Finally, hard work makes geniuses. A guided effort with diligence will result in a successful career.</p> <h3>Telisha Smith-Gorvie&nbsp;</h3> <h3><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10186 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190130-Telisha%20Smith-Gorvie%20-3I8A9614-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p><em><strong>Telisha Smith-Gorview</strong> is an emergency medicine physician in the University Health Network and an assistant professor in the department of medicine.</em></p> <p>Believe in yourself.</p> <p>There is a false perception in some parts of society that Black students are less able or less capable, so believe that you also have the ability to succeed. Ask lots of questions, reach out to groups like Community of Support.</p> <p>It'll take hard work – and then some harder work – but if pursuing a career in medicine and/or research interests you, go for it and see where it takes you!&nbsp;</p> <h3>Lina Elfaki&nbsp;</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10183 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190116-Lina%20Elfaki-3I8A9267-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em><strong>Lina Elfaki</strong> is a&nbsp;master's of science candidate in the Institute of Medical Science.</em></p> <p>One piece of advice I wish I knew earlier in my studies is to be wary of other people’s advice! Yes, seriously! Often, you may be one of a few Black/minority students in your course, lab or even program, so others may not sufficiently appreciate your experiences or struggles. Thus, their advice may be irrelevant to you and you need to take it with a grain of salt.</p> <p>Instead, find supportive mentors and allies who you trust in your field(s) of interest who can offer constructive criticism. Personally, I have often been deterred by friends or supervisors who underestimated my perseverance. However, through my undergraduate studies, I learned to appreciate my unique strengths and how my privilege to attend an elite institution like U of T requires me to create inclusive spaces for other minority students.</p> <p>Therefore, when looking for a research supervisor for my graduate studies at the Institute of Medical Science, I made sure to choose a supervisor that not only cultivates my research advancements, but also encourages my personal career progress. Thankfully, Dr. <strong>Howard Leong-Poi</strong> has incredibly supported me, both academically and personally.</p> <h3>Aisha Lofters&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3> <h3>&nbsp;<img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10188 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/20190131-Aisha%20Lofters-3I8A9631-crop_0.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p><em><strong>Aisha Lofters</strong> is an assistant professor and clinician scientist, in the department of family and community medicine. She is also a provincial&nbsp;primary care lead for the cancer screening portfolio at Cancer Care Ontario.</em></p> <p>Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. A lot of research is about convincing others how good you are. Convincing them that your idea should be funded, that your salary should be funded, that you should be hired for this position. Often, we are taught that we must be humble, or we don’t have the same supports as others do reinforcing how successful we have been.</p> <p>But this is the time to celebrate your accomplishments. Be confident, tell them why YOU are the best one for the role, why YOUR idea is the best one for the funding opportunity. Don’t sell yourself short; others might so you can’t afford to!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 13 Feb 2019 17:36:52 +0000 davidlee1 153367 at U of T study links slowed brainwaves to early signs of dementia /news/u-t-study-links-slowed-brainwaves-early-signs-dementia <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T study links slowed brainwaves to early signs of dementia</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-12-12-brainwaves-researcher-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=0y-0L9rR 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-12-12-brainwaves-researcher-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=VQLFr-Bn 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-12-12-brainwaves-researcher-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=OQMR1Bq2 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-12-12-brainwaves-researcher-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=0y-0L9rR" alt="Photo of Jed Meltzer"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-12-12T14:36:57-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 14:36" class="datetime">Wed, 12/12/2018 - 14:36</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Jed Meltzer is an assistant professor in the departments of psychology and speech language pathology at U of T and the Canada Research Chair in Interventional Cognitive Neuroscience (photo courtesy of Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/psychology" hreflang="en">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/speech-language-pathology" hreflang="en">Speech Language Pathology</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>To turn back the clock on Alzheimer’s disease, many researchers are seeking ways to effectively diagnose the neurodegenerative disorder earlier.</p> <p>One potential way to do this is by tracking a person’s brainwave activity, which slows down in certain brain regions that are likely to be affected by the disease next, according to recent findings by şüŔęĘÓƵ and Baycrest researchers.</p> <p>The study, published recently in the journal&nbsp;<em>Human Brain Mapping</em>, found that individuals potentially in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (mild cognitive impairment) and those with a rare form of language dementia (primary progressive aphasia) exhibited sluggish brainwaves and subtle signs of damage in the brain regions responsible for memory and planning. These individuals only displayed minor memory and thinking problems, but their slowing brainwaves predicted the severity of their condition, such as their degree of memory loss.</p> <p>“By using brain imaging, we were able to pinpoint that this slowing of electrical activity occurs in specific regions that have not yet lost brain cells, but are negatively affected by the disease,” says <strong>Jed Meltzer</strong>, senior author and Canada Research Chair in Interventional Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute. “This means that these areas could be more responsive to treatments since the brain cells have not died yet and are only starting to undergo damage.”</p> <p>These brainwaves may also change in response to interventions, adds Meltzer, who is also an assistant professor in the departments of psychology and speech language pathology at the şüŔęĘÓƵ.</p> <p>“Our work identifies a potential biomarker that indicates when the brain cells start to malfunction and opens the door to implementing targeted brain treatments during earlier stages of neurodegenerative disorders,” says Meltzer.</p> <p>Surprisingly, the study also found that healthy older adults displayed “sped up” brainwaves compared to young adults, which is distinctly opposite to the trajectory of older adults with dementia.</p> <p>“One of the challenges in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is differentiating whether changes to the brain’s structure are a part of normal aging or actually early signs of the disorder,” says Meltzer. “Based on these findings, researchers could potentially use measurements of brainwave activity before and after an intervention to test its effectiveness in a faster and clearer manner.”</p> <p>The study analyzed the brain’s electrical activity and brain structures of 64 adults as they were unfocused on any tasks (otherwise known as resting state). Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to measure brainwaves and pinpoint their specific location, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the loss of brain cells. Research participants also underwent evaluations that tested their cognitive abilities.</p> <p>As next steps, the team is exploring the use of brain stimulation as a way to slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.</p> <p>The team hopes to continue validating the use of brain activity as a reliable health indicator for early signs of dementia. Researchers could also expand their work on determining effective ways to stall the development of neurodegenerative disorders or treat premature brain changes using non-invasive electrical stimulation.</p> <p>This research was&nbsp;supported by&nbsp;the Alzheimer’s Association, the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, the Ontario Brain Institute, the Canada Research Chairs program and the Sandra A. Rotman Program in Cognitive Neuroscience.</p> <p><em>With content from&nbsp;the Baycrest Rotman Research Institute</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:36:57 +0000 noreen.rasbach 148948 at What U of T researchers are doing to help 'devastating' swallowing problems /news/what-u-t-researchers-are-doing-help-devastating-swallowing-problems <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">What U of T researchers are doing to help 'devastating' swallowing problems </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-04-10-swallowing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=EwEvDIoB 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-04-10-swallowing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fU8bXUbc 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-04-10-swallowing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=k00JfFB7 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-04-10-swallowing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=EwEvDIoB" alt="Photo of Professor Rosemary Martino"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-04-10T12:19:34-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 12:19" class="datetime">Tue, 04/10/2018 - 12:19</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Professor Rosemary Martino conducts a videofluoroscopic imaging test </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/jim-oldfield" hreflang="en">Jim Oldfield</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/speech-language-pathology" hreflang="en">Speech Language Pathology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>We swallow about 600 times a day, mostly without thinking about it. But swallowing involves dozens of muscles and nerves in the mouth, throat and esophagus, and for people who struggle with the process, the results can be devastating.</p> <p>Malnutrition, dehydration and social isolation are common in people with swallowing trouble. So is depression and aspiration of food that leads to pneumonia. Occasionally, swallowing issues cause choking and sudden death. And a recent U.S. study of hospitalized patients with serious illnesses found that more than half said needing a feeding tube to live was a state equal to or worse than death.</p> <p>Many conditions can cause swallowing problems: stroke, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, and congenital or developmental conditions such as cerebral palsy and cleft palate. People treated for head and neck cancer often develop problems, sometimes years later; and their numbers are growing as cancer survival rates improve. Estimates on the global prevalence of swallowing disorders, which collectively are known as dysphagia, are about eight per cent – almost 600 million people.</p> <p>But there is good news. Before 1980, most patients with complex dysphagia got feeding tubes; today, clinicians can offer videofluoroscopy and other bedside tests to better assess swallowing problems, and less invasive therapies that emphasize exercise and posture.</p> <p>And at the şüŔęĘÓƵ, scientists in the <a href="http://www.slp.utoronto.ca/">department of speech-language pathology</a> and related fields are starting to answer long-standing questions such as how best to give dysphagia screening tests, which interventions work well for specific conditions, and how to create global standards to talk about and address swallowing issues.</p> <p>Through research, we may be entering a new era in dysphagia care.</p> <h3><strong>Which approach is better?</strong></h3> <p>More than two-thirds of head and neck cancer patients need a feeding tube for several months, after radiotherapy. They typically get therapy from a speech language pathologist before swallowing problems begin or once symptoms arise. Both methods provide benefits, but the extent of the benefits from each approach is unclear.</p> <p>Professor <strong>Rosemary Martino</strong> and her colleagues just launched a study that will provide answers. The US$8.5 million&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2017/pro-active-comparing-effectiveness-prophylactic-swallow-intervention-patients">PRO-ACTIVE project</a> will enrol&nbsp;1,000 patients over five years in Toronto and six other cities across North America.</p> <p>“The stuation now is what we call clinical equipoise,” says Martino, a professor in the department of speech-language pathology who holds a Canada Research Chair in swallowing disorders. “Both treatment approaches work but we don’t know which is better, and so we can’t know where to invest the most resources. We also know the clinical community is mixed in what they offer patients; this study will hopefully resolve those uncertainties once and for all.”</p> <p>The researchers will track patients who get both proactive and reactive therapy, then measure and compare their ability to eat and swallow along with other health outcomes up to one year after radiotherapy. They will also parse the effects of each approach in different groups of patients and compare the effectiveness of low- and high-intensity proactive interventions. (Low-intensity therapy is pragmatic, with a focus on exercising oral musculature during meal times and some snacks; high-intensity therapy includes additional exercises between meals.)</p> <p>“Intensity is both a resource and patient burden issue,” says Martino, whose lab is based at U of T and the <a href="http://www.uhn.ca/Research/Research_Institutes/Krembil">Krembil Research Institute</a> in University Health Network. “We know patient adherence to exercise therapy is often low, so we need to make sure we don’t overprescribe and raise the risk that they do nothing. And with better evidence, we can let patients know exactly how much better their swallow will be if they comply.”</p> <p>The study will engage patients and families, clinicians and policy makers at several points, toward ensuring that new findings are practical and available to patients right away. Study researchers will also use new health informatics and quantitative imaging technology to establish the first international database to compare the effectiveness of swallowing interventions relative to radiation targets and doses. The database, housed by Martino and her team at University Health Network, will support trials to further guide therapy and help preserve the swallowing ability of patients.</p> <h3><strong>A quick and effective screening test</strong></h3> <p>Almost 60 per cent of acute stroke patients have some swallowing impairment. Stroke patients with dysphagia are three times more likely to get pneumonia, and for those with severe dysphagia, the risk of pneumonia is 11 times higher.</p> <p>Globally, there is a pressing need for a quick and reliable bedside screening tool that can tell clinicians if a stroke patient has dysphagia: Early identification of swallowing problems allows for earlier intervention, which reduces the risk for pneumonia, malnutrition and death while speeding patient recovery and limiting health-care costs.</p> <p>In the early 2000s, Martino’s lab developed a screening test called the Toronto Bedside Swallowing Screening Test (TOR-BSST), a simple one-page tool that only takes 10 minutes to administer and that allows clinicians to determine if a patient has a swallowing problem. In 2009, they <a href="http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/strokeaha/40/2/555.full.pdf">published results</a> from a trial of more than 300 stroke patients that showed the test had an accuracy rate of over 90 per cent.</p> <p>It was a practice-changing study.</p> <p>The lab quickly set up an online training module and began to teach health professionals in Toronto and across Canada and the U.S. how to deliver the test. The tool has now been translated into six languages and is being adopted around the world, most recently in Japan and Brazil. “The TOR-BSST&nbsp;is really a Canadian success story, and we’re now validating this tool in critically ill cardiac patients who have been intubated for one day or more”, says Martino.</p> <p>Almost 400 clinicians globally have used the TOR-BSST. Martino and her colleagues continue to study new ways of delivering the test and they expect further results later this year.</p> <h3><strong>Why making food easy to swallow is hard</strong></h3> <p>A key treatment for dysphagia is diet-texture modification. Many patients find that soft or liquified foods are easier to swallow, but the best consistency for each patient is highly variable. As well, there is no globally accepted way to name and describe texture-modified foods, which has led to poor communication among patients, caregivers and families, and undermined treatments.</p> <p>In 2013, international experts from several health professions came together to develop a common terminology for texture-modified foods and instructions for simple methods to test food and drink consistency. The group – the <a href="http://iddsi.org/">International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative</a> (IDDSI) – published a framework in 2015, and soon after several countries made implementation plans.</p> <p>New Zealand became the first country to adopt IDDSI in January, and Canada and the U.S. are on track to implement early next year.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8019 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/2018-04-10-catriona-steele-resized.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 268px; margin: 10px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image">“For people with swallowing issues, food and liquid are like medication, and they come with some of the same risks. Getting diet texture wrong can kill,” says <strong>Catriona Steele </strong>(pictured left), who is a professor in the department of speech-language pathology, an IDDSI board member and a senior scientist at the <a href="http://www.uhn.ca/TorontoRehab">Toronto Rehabilitation Institute</a> in University Health Network. “Inside the hospital, we don't treat the kitchen with the same reverence as the pharmacy.”</p> <p>Steele says the IDDSI framework will bring much more attention to dysphagia diets, but that kitchens and food manufacturers that prepare food for dysphagia patients in Canada have a lot of work to do before roll-out. For example, labels on commercially available products need to change. Moreover, there are still major knowledge gaps regarding which consistencies are best for patients with different conditions.</p> <p>“Liquid behaves one way in a person with an intact system but may not behave the same in someone with stroke or head and neck cancer,” says Steele, whose <a href="http://steeleswallowinglab.ca/srrl/">lab</a> has studied the physiology of swallowing since 2003. “So clinically, people have been making educated guesses. We’ll collect data for IDDSI on particular measurements in specific conditions to guide clinicians down the road.”</p> <p>In another project, Steele and colleagues at the University of Waterloo recently looked at nutrition in seniors at 32 long-term care facilities in Canada. The study, called <a href="http://www.the-ria.ca/m3/">Making the Most of Mealtimes</a>, found that texture-modified foods contribute to malnourishment, in part because people eat less of them and purĂ©eing changes nutrient density.</p> <p>“People prescribe these liquids with good intentions in terms of safety, but they might be creating a negative cycle that leads to malnutrition,” says Steele, although she points out that researchers are trying to improve the nutrition of these foods through supplements.</p> <p>Another challenge in seniors and others with dysphagia is the emotional aspect of food.</p> <p>“We all love to eat, so dietary changes can be very threatening to people. And there are many possible reasons for negative emotions around food,” says Steele. “Early in my career, I worked with Holocaust survivors, for example, and modifying food texture had particularly negative associations for them. So we need to do this carefully and only when justified, and that's not the standard of care at present.”</p> <h3><strong>A guide to treating the young</strong></h3> <p>Children with swallowing problems can be especially hard to diagnose, in part because the potential reasons for feeding issues are many: feeding aversion secondary to gastrointestinal reflux, sensory issues in autism, problems with muscle weakness or co-ordination in the face or neck, cardiac or respiratory conditions, and lack of appetite from medications, to name a few.</p> <p>Moreover, many strategies that clinicians use in adults will not work in the pediatric population for developmental reasons. For children with developmental difficulties, swallowing problems are very common and upsetting for families. Up to 80 per cent of these children have some kind of feeding or swallowing impairment.</p> <p>Treatment for children with developmental challenges is complex, and often demands a team of health professionals that may include a physician, speech language pathologist, developmental paediatrician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, dietitian and nurse.</p> <p>The clinical feeding and swallowing team at <a href="https://hollandbloorview.ca/">Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital</a> provides comprehensive expertise to patients with developmental challenges at the hospital. But they also share their knowledge with colleagues at community hospitals, clinics and individual community practitioners, who often face a knowledge gap when trying to address dysphagia in children with developmental issues.</p> <p>To that end, the swallowing team at Holland Bloorview and the hospital’s <a href="https://hollandbloorview.ca/teachinglearning/evidencetocare">Evidence to Care</a> group recently developed a handbook, <a href="https://hollandbloorview.ca/Assets/website/documents/Teaching%20and%20learning%20documents/Evidence%20to%20Care/HollandBloorview_FeedingSwallowing2017-09-12.pdf"><em>Optimizing Feeding and Swallowing in Children with Physical and Developmental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Clinicians.</em></a> The handbook provides a hierarchical and integrated approach to guide practice, and highlights key considerations clinicians might face.</p> <p>“There was a lack of clear summaries of the scientific evidence available across disciplines that presented information in an accessible, efficient way for a broad group of community clinicians who may need to care for children with feeding and swallowing impairments,” says <strong>Deryk Beal</strong>, an assistant professor in U of T’s department of speech-language pathology and clinician scientist at Bloorview Research Institute.</p> <p>The guide has been a huge success. Viewers have downloaded it more than 4,600 times since it appeared online in June last year, in more than a dozen countries and every Canadian province. The University of Montreal made it required reading for a third-year occupational therapy course, and a survey by Holland Bloorview staff found many users praised the guide for its clarity and relevance to practice.</p> <p>Clinicians say they use the guide in several ways – as a quick-reference tool when seeing patients, when sharing knowledge with colleagues, and for on-boarding new staff and teaching students. Many users like the guide’s interprofessional focus, which enables them to better understand the perspectives and treatment options that professionals in other fields can bring to cases.</p> <p>“We know feeding and swallowing is a specialized area of medical care and a lot of people working in the community may not have received specific training in some elements of the care they’re providing,’’ says <strong>Andrea Hoffman</strong>, an assistant professor&nbsp;in the department of pediatrics and developmental pediatrician at Holland Bloorview. “This handbook helps give them a framework to gather information and determine the important elements of the assessment from a range of disciplines, so they can make the best recommendations and most appropriate referrals to provide optimal care.”</p> <p>Hoffman and her colleagues recently published two quick-reference handouts based on the guide, and also plan to create client-centred resources for families.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:19:34 +0000 noreen.rasbach 133140 at Rehabilitation Sciences Sector /node/8716 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Rehabilitation Sciences Sector</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-01-07T15:47:18-05:00" title="Thursday, January 7, 2016 - 15:47" class="datetime">Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://www.rehab.utoronto.ca</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/physical-therapy" hreflang="en">Physical Therapy</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/occupational-therapy" hreflang="en">Occupational Therapy</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/slp" hreflang="en">slp</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/speech-language-pathology" hreflang="en">Speech Language Pathology</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:18 +0000 sgupta 8716 at