Gerald C. Imaezue, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and director of the Brain and Aphasia Recovery Lab, presented at BuzzLab, a selective research forum hosted by the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in affiliation with the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is recognized as the nation鈥檚 top-ranked rehabilitation hospital.
In his presentation, "Optimizing Self-Feedback for Persons with Aphasia," Imaezue introduced his lab鈥檚 innovative Recursive Self-Feedback (RSF) approach and shared early findings demonstrating its potential to improve speech fluency and spontaneous speech in patients with mild to severe nonfluent aphasia. He also outlined his proposed NIH R21 project, which seeks to refine and evaluate RSF as a scalable, self-directed treatment adaptable across languages.
This research addresses a critical need in aphasia rehabilitation: the limited availability of accessible therapies that can be applied across linguistic and cultural contexts. By advancing approaches like RSF, Imaezue and his team aim to broaden access to effective interventions and improve recovery outcomes for stroke survivors living with aphasia and related disorders worldwide.
The BuzzLab also offered a unique opportunity for cross-disciplinary exchange. Clinicians, scientists, and engineers in attendance provided feedback that will help guide the next stages of Imaezue鈥檚 research program.