06-03-2005, 10:15 PM
Since you mention it.
My dad had a stroke and I have had some first hand observation and have been reading about others.
The brain can be reprogrammed to function well, but its not as good as it was before.
My dad for instance had a stroke(a fairly minor one fortunetly) in his right brain. After the stroke he had a hard time speaking but he was still able to figure out and understand rather complex machines; he took apart and fixed the furnace the 4 days later even though he could hardly speak.
Over time his speach has improved again to the point that a stranger woulnt notice anything but the family sees that he no longer speaks as fluidly as he once did and his casual conversations are a bit off.
From what I have read about people with left brain strokes is they often speak great and relate well to people, but they have a hard time understanding anything complex.
My point? Yes the brain will reprogram itself. Its making the best of a bad situtation.
To say the brain is "meant to be reprogrammed" is like saying someone is meant to scarred knubs on ther hand since thats how the body reponds if your fingers are cut off.
My dad had a stroke and I have had some first hand observation and have been reading about others.
The brain can be reprogrammed to function well, but its not as good as it was before.
My dad for instance had a stroke(a fairly minor one fortunetly) in his right brain. After the stroke he had a hard time speaking but he was still able to figure out and understand rather complex machines; he took apart and fixed the furnace the 4 days later even though he could hardly speak.
Over time his speach has improved again to the point that a stranger woulnt notice anything but the family sees that he no longer speaks as fluidly as he once did and his casual conversations are a bit off.
From what I have read about people with left brain strokes is they often speak great and relate well to people, but they have a hard time understanding anything complex.
My point? Yes the brain will reprogram itself. Its making the best of a bad situtation.
To say the brain is "meant to be reprogrammed" is like saying someone is meant to scarred knubs on ther hand since thats how the body reponds if your fingers are cut off.