Seeing the Light: A Journey Through Recovery from a “Mild” Concussion with Nancy Horowitz Bertsch

Guest: Nancy Horowitz Bertsch, MA, CCC-SLPEarn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=Seeing-the-Light-A-Journey-Through-Recovery-from-a-Mild-ConcJoin Renee Garrett and her guest, Nancy Horowitz Bertsch, an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with over 40 years of expertise, discussing the personal and professional dimensions of post-concussion syndrome. In this episode, Nancy shares her own journey of recovering from a fall and concussion, illuminating the complex interplay of symptoms, the need for tailored therapy, and the critical role SLPs can play in managing such injuries. From her experiences with healthcare professionals to the importance of advocacy and personalized care, this episode provides a comprehensive look at post-concussion syndrome, especially in older adults. Tune in to gain valuable insights that can augment your practice and understanding of neuro-rehab for concussions.Episode Timeline:00:00 Introduction and Disclosures01:07 Meet Nancy Horowitz Bertsch02:27 Nancy's Personal Story04:53 The Fall and Immediate Aftermath10:30 Long-term Symptoms and Struggles27:36 The Need for Proper Therapy32:13 Understanding Cognitive Function Challenges32:46 The Impact of Social Isolation33:33 Self-Therapy and Accountability34:24 Visualizing Recovery36:06 Navigating Medical Testing38:09 The Struggle with Labels41:21 Nutrition and Recovery45:06 The Importance of Physical Activity50:11 Advocacy and Support Systems01:00:16 Concluding Thoughts and Future PlansAbout the Guest: Nancy Horowitz Bertsch, MA, CCC-SLP, is a practicing SLP with over 40 years of experience working with adults with neurogenic communication disorders, including TBI. Nancy worked across all practice settings, including hospitals, private practice, home health, telehealth, and as a department director for two hospitals. Nancy has presented nationally at ASHA and is a graduate of the Leadership Development Program. She was a peer reviewer for the TBI committee (ASHA convention). She is the founder/director of the Well Together Neuro Rehab (trademarked) group. Nancy was a contributing author for CSHA magazine and presenter for CSHA-California, ArSHA, and CSHA-Colorado. Additionally, Nancy has presented several oral seminars and posters. She was a CEU online course author at Northern Speech Services.Mentioned in this episode:Register for the Aphasia Discourse Conference on June 7