Brain Awareness Week - March 15-21

posted on March 19, 2010

By Susan McDaniel - Speech Pathologist

Celebrating “Brain Awareness Week” sounds a bit funny to me, how about you? When was the last time you thought about your brain? We probably think more about other peoples’ brains than our own.  When observing people while driving around town or waiting in line at the store, sometimes I wonder, “What are they thinking?” I remember marveling at my children’s rapid brain growth and development as they matured; witnessing how they apply newly-learned information.  Now that my parents and in-laws are aging, I think about forgetfulness and “senior moments.” I’m concerned about their safety as their increasing age may affect their judgment.

Normal brain function is truly wonderful. Changes to this normal function could result from sudden events such as stroke or injury from an automobile accident… or slower processes such as the onset of dementia, a brain tumor, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. At times like these, we find ourselves depending on people who have spent a lot of time “thinking about the brain.” We turn to neurologists, physiatrists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. These practitioners have studied the brain and how it affects daily life. 

We are fortunate to live in a community with excellent health care providers who can diagnose and treat people who suffer from changes to their brain. So, we keep our fingers crossed that our brains stay in good working order, and know at any given moment there are many in our community who can lend a helping hand if things change. Happy “Brain Awareness” Week.  May yours remain healthy!