TV Newser: Bob Woodruff's memory and speech "still shaky"

[DeepModem Mom]

His Memory & Speech "Are Still Shaky"


(ABC)

Don't overlook this paragraph about Bob Woodruff in Joe Hagan's long piece about WNT:

"...In that time, it became clear that it would be a long while until Woodruff was ready to return to the air, if ever (in recent weeks, he has had a piece of prosthetic skull put in his head, and people who have spoken with him say his memory and speech are still shaky). Inside ABC, it is understood that Woodruff's family applied pressure on Westin to keep him from giving away Woodruff's job (the family declined to comment for this story), but Westin disputes that categorically..."

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/his_memory_speech_are_still_shaky_38356.asp

[lindisfarne]

1. As is the case with any brain injury (including strokes), the more therapy

he gets, the better he'll do. Unfortunately, the insurance industries don't see it this way.

[Ilsa]

5. He's lucky in that he can probably pay for msot of his

therapy out of pocket. Most Americans can't if they have tramatic brain injury. It is most unlucky for him that he was hit in the first place.

[lindisfarne]

8. Yes, he is lucky financially. Most neurologists, however, don't even

tell patients that if they can afford additional therapy, it's worth paying for. Part of the problem is that neurologists are so conditioned by the insurance industry; part of it is they're just not aware; part of it is gains can take a while and seem to be minimal and it depends on whether the extra cost is worth it (for me, it would be, but I know even within my extended family, they just wouldn't understand this.) So the neurologists are condemned by the patients for telling them to spend money when the gain ends up being minimal, in the patient's eyes, although actually may be quite substantial in terms of overall cognitive function.

[Ilsa]

9. I know what you mean. My son gets speech therapy

privately and some other therapies. Most people don't realize what a huge difference a minimal gain can mean, including a start to a whole new behavior. I knew an autistic girl who was virtually mute. No one thought she'd ever speak, but witht he right therapist and two years of work, she started speaking through her hands (actually, more like using her hands to retrieve and "physically" deliver the words). She is still more quiet, but is able to utter some basic needs, which is a HUGE gain for her and her family.

Your comments were right on target.

[peekaloo]

2. I read snippets of that article from newsblues.com.

Nice to see Charlie Gibson is a whiny ass crybaby in light of his colleagues condition. :sarcasm:

[kittenpants]

3. I can't stand Gibson.

But then my other options are Katie Couric and Brian Williams!

[npincus]

4. isn't Gibson a stand-in? Or is he a replacement?

[peekaloo]

6. according to that story

Diane Sawyer was offered the anchor position but couldn't "make up her mind" :eyes:, Elizabeth Vargas assumed she would return as co-chair after her leave only to have Charlie the Tuna threaten to quit GMA if he wasn't offered the job as his seat and his seat alone. ABC buckled, withdrew their offer to Sawyer and gave lil Charlie the permanent seat.

[npincus]

7. and when Woodruff recovers?