Lyn Turkstra

Effects of Cognitive Impairments on Communication Ability

Research Strength: Behavior: Cognition and Emotion

The broad goal of research in my laboratory is to understand the effects of cognitive impairments on communication ability in adolescents and adults with acquired neurologic disorders.

Most studies to date have focused on adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents in the United States. TBI often has devastating effects on the individual’s performance in social, academic, and vocational settings, and communication ability has been identified as one of the most important predictors of long-term outcome. We are studying the relation of cognitive functions and social cognition to communication behavior, and how this differs between typical adolescents and their peers with TBI. This knowledge will enable us to design interventions that will lead to improved participation in social life. Although adolescents and young adults with TBI are the main study population, our studies also involve other populations characterized by social communication challenges, including individuals with acquired neurological disorders such as tumor or stroke, and those with developmental disorders such as autism and Asperger Syndrome.

Selected Publications:

Turkstra, L. S. Looking while listening and speaking: Eye-to-face gaze in adolescents with and without traumatic brain injury. J. Speech, Lang. Hearing Res. In press.
Turkstra, L. and M. Bourgeois. 2005. Intervention for a modern day HM: Errorless learning of practical goals. J. Med. Speech Lang. Pathol. In press.
Turkstra, L., T. Fuller, E. Youngstrom, K. Green, and E. Kuegeler. 2004. Conversational fluency and executive function in adolescents with Conduct Disorder. Acta Neuropsychologica 2: 70-85.
Turkstra, L., T. Dixon, and K. Baker. 2004. Theory of mind and social beliefs in adolescents with traumatic brain injury. NeuroRehabilitation 19: 245-256.
Turkstra, L., A. Holland, and G. Bays. 2003. The neuroscience of rehabilitation and recovery: What have we learned from animal research? Arch. Physical Med. Rehab. 84: 604-612. [PDF]
Turkstra, L., S. McDonald, and R. DePompei. 2001. Social information processing in adolescents: Data from normally-developing adolescents and preliminary data from their peers with traumatic brain injury. J. Head Trauma Rehab. 16: 469-483. [PDF]


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Lyn Turkstra Effects of Cognitive Impairments on Communication Ability E-mail: lsturkstra@wisc.edu Research Strength: Behavior: Cognition and Emotion The broad goal of research in my laboratory is to understand the effects of cognitive impairments on communication ability in adolescents and adults with acquired neurologic disorders. Most studies to date have focused on adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents in the United States. TBI often has devastating effects on the individual’s performance in social, academic, and vocational settings, and communication ability has been identified as one of the most important predictors of long-term outcome. We are studying the relation of cognitive functions and social cognition to communication behavior, and how this differs between typical adolescents and their peers with TBI. This knowledge will enable us to design interventions that will lead to improved participation in social life. Although adolescents and young adults with TBI are the main study population, our studies also involve other populations characterized by social communication challenges, including individuals with acquired neurological disorders such as tumor or stroke, and those with developmental disorders such as autism and Asperger Syndrome. Selected Publications: Turkstra, L. S. Looking while listening and speaking: Eye-to-face gaze in adolescents with and without traumatic brain injury. J. Speech, Lang. Hearing Res. In press. Turkstra, L. and M. Bourgeois. 2005. Intervention for a modern day HM: Errorless learning of practical goals. J. Med. Speech Lang. Pathol. In press. Turkstra, L., T. Fuller, E. Youngstrom, K. Green, and E. Kuegeler. 2004. Conversational fluency and executive function in adolescents with Conduct Disorder. Acta Neuropsychologica 2: 70-85. Turkstra, L., T. Dixon, and K. Baker. 2004. Theory of mind and social beliefs in adolescents with traumatic brain injury. NeuroRehabilitation 19: 245-256. Turkstra, L., A. Holland, and G. Bays. 2003. The neuroscience of rehabilitation and recovery: What have we learned from animal research? Arch. Physical Med. Rehab. 84: 604-612. [PDF] Turkstra, L., S. McDonald, and R. DePompei. 2001. Social information processing in adolescents: Data from normally-developing adolescents and preliminary data from their peers with traumatic brain injury. J. Head Trauma Rehab. 16: 469-483. [PDF]

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