Ep. 12 The Start of the Speech Recovery Journey With Susan Hakimi

In this episode, Justin and Roger are joined by Susan Hakimi, the head speech pathologist at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and the speech therapist who first worked with Roger during the earliest days of his recovery in the hospital. Susan shares how she got into speech pathology and explains the critical role speech therapists play in the immediate aftermath of a stroke.Together, they discuss what happens during inpatient speech therapy, how clinicians evaluate communication after a stroke, and why conditions like aphasia affect speech and language the way they do. Susan also offers insight into the early milestones therapists look for, the challenges patients face in those first days, and how families can support a loved one navigating stroke recovery. Through both professional expertise and personal perspective, this conversation sheds light on where the recovery journey truly begins for many stroke survivors.