Oyesanya Submits NIH R03 Application

Kudos to Tolu Oyesanya, assistant professor, for the submission of a subcontract proposal on Lindsey Byom, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill NIH R03 application entitled "Predictors of Older Adults Communication Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury." This proposal requests funds for a two-year period with a proposed start date of December 1, 2020.

The overarching goal of this project is to determine the scope and nature of communication disorders among older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). As the U.S. population ages, a “silver tsunami” of TBI has begun. In 2013 more than 850,000 Americans over age 55 sustained TBIs that resulted in emergency department care, hospitalization, or death -- a 29% increase from 2007. Chronic TBI-related communication problems are well documented among younger adults and are detrimental to long-term social, vocational, and quality of life outcomes. Among older adults however, it remains unclear what aspects of communication are most affected after TBI and who among this population is most vulnerable to communication impairments. The objective of the proposed research is to address these critical knowledge gaps regarding the effects of TBI on older adults’ communication. For individuals to maximize their communication, and associated participation outcomes, rehabilitation must be targeted and theory-driven. As a first step toward enacting these principles in speech language pathology practice with older adults with TBI we will establish foundational data regarding 1) communication profiles of older adults with TBI – ensuring that the most important communication processes are targeted for further rehabilitation research; and 2) injury and non-injury factors that contribute to communication problems post-injury, facilitating development of a preliminary predictive model of communication outcomes of older adults. This early data is needed so that communication screening, assessment, and treatment approaches meet the specific needs of this growing population.

Dr. Oyesanya, the sub-contract PI at Duke, will contribute to the design and organization of the large data set and the interpretation and dissemination of findings.