A little about Persisting Symptoms After Concussion (PSAC)
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Effects are often short term and can include headaches and trouble with concentration, memory, balance, mood and sleep.
Concussions usually are caused by an impact to the head or body that is associated with a change in brain function. Not everyone who experiences a blow to the body or head has a concussion.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, February 17). Concussion - Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
Up to 30% of individuals who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) develop persisting symptoms after concussion (PSAC). ...in this systematic review and meta-analysis, acute cognitive symptoms, medical history of anxiety and/or depression or of sleep disorders, and the presence of clinical signs (loss of consciousness and amnesia) were the factors associated with greatest odds of PSAC in adults across all time points.
McIntosh, S. J., Vergeer, M. H., Galarneau, J. M., Eliason, P. H., & Debert, C. T. (2025). Factors Associated With Persisting Symptoms After Concussion in Adults With Mild TBI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA network open, 8(6), e2516619. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.16619
Prevention of head injury is key!
Aspiring to be grounded and grateful
Today we had a lovely Easter service at our church, the one I’ve attended for most of my life. My parents actually first met at this church, though they were both working at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at that time (mom as a nurse in pediatric oncology, dad as a biomedical engineer). Easter was the day, back in 2013, that I first returned to my home church after the accident. I was in a wheelchair that first visit back, surrounded by unknowns, loss and pain, including excruciating migraines.Though the church and its members were familiar to me that first visit, I couldn’t recall names and had difficulty distinguishing reality from dreams, since both were equally unbelievable. I’ll forever be grateful for the care and services I received, but I sure am glad those days are in the past.
When I couldn’t remember much of the recent past and had no idea what lay ahead, brain injury taught me the value of being grounded and grateful for the present moment.
Reframing discouragements to motivate progress
My very honest, raw and personal take on using discouragements to motivate the commitment and creativity necessary for cognitive rehabilitation.
Cultivating Resilience in Cognitive Rehabilitation
In this highlight video, I reflect on my lived experience with traumatic brain injury and how it informs the clinical work I now do with survivors and their families. It is a story of rebuilding, learning, and finding purpose in the process.
Through unexpected and life‑altering events, Laura has cultivated a deep resilience that now shapes both her growth mindset and the therapeutic work she offers as a Speech‑Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Her lived experience informs every aspect of her clinical approach, allowing her to support survivors with empathy, insight, and evidence‑based strategies.
In this highlight video, Laura shares her personal story alongside key principles of neuroplasticity and practical clinical applications. She offers these teachings in multimedia presentations designed for brain injury survivors, their care partners, and fellow clinicians who want to better understand the healing journey.
To explore services or collaborate with Laura, you can connect with her directly through the contact page.