Stroke Of Insight

[beckyman]

I have recently read this book by Dr Jill Taylor. - Interesting.
It would be good to see the views of any other readers.
What might be the expected personality effects of a cerebral haemorrhage affecting the RIGHT side of the brain?
Do other mammals have the same left/right brains and if so do they operate in the same way as human brains?
Any guidance to references would be welcome.

[woofgang]

http://www.allinahealth.org/ac/strokemanual.nsf/page/right_sided_stroke

[woofgang]

Her stroke affected the LEFT side of her brain
http://www.allinahealth.org/ac/strokemanual.nsf/page/left_sided_stroke

[woofgang]

I have just read the summary of the book. I would not for one moment wish to denigrate her experience but one thing did leap out at me. She has put an appendix of "40 things that I need" which is supposed to be guidance for the treatment of people who have had a stroke. She says "ask me multiple choice questions" My experience of folk who have had a stroke that affects speech and comprehension is that they find multiple choice hard to deal with and are better served, at least at first by a string of yes/no questions or choices between two things..so not eg "would you like tea, coffee, hot chocolate or juice?" but "would you like a drink? would you like a hot or cold drink? then tea or coffee?
The damage would have to be much less, or the recovery substantial before they could deal with multiple choice even with something as simple as a drink

[woofgang]

Its hard to answer questions about cognition and perception in mammals because we don't know how it works when their brains are undamaged...all we can see is what they do....

[woofgang]

I really really hate when someone asks something and I answer, a proper answer, and the OP doesn't respond........

[beckyman]

Thank you, Woofgang, for your comments especially as you were the only responder. I have been away and have only just opened up my lap top. It is a tool which I use very sparingly as I enjoy living in the present moment and living at first hand! My gentle comment on your response is that reading the author's reasons in full for encouraging multiple choice questions makes good sense to me. She says it is for her own benefit as it forces her to struggle to understand the question and try to formulate an answer in her damaged brain. Her apparent reaction to the question from the questioner's point of view may be unsatisfactory and frustrating but that doesn't matter. The point is that the multiple question is for the questionee's benefit and not for the questioner's. From the outside, as it were, no benefit may be obvious but inside she finds it a great help in the total healing process.

[woofgang]

and my answer is that while that is fine in rehab sessions, it doesn't help the poor stroke patient to express themselves over such things as whether they want tea or coffee. I understand that its her preference but believe me, at least in the early days, it won't be the preference of most stroke sufferers and will likely result in frustration and suffering for the stroke victim which does not facilitate recovery.