Ascension Wisconsin - Elmbrook Medical Office Building

Our neurorehabilitation therapists help you be as independent as possible and will recommend therapy programs that support you as mental activity changes throughout your recovery care plan.

Occupational therapy (OT) functional cognition program

The occupational therapist evaluates how specific cognitive changes may be affecting your independence and safety during daily activities such as meal preparation, finances, dressing, bathing, medication management, sleep, or driving. Your OT makes recommendations to help increase safety and independence during daily tasks and social activities. We’ll identify cognitive stimulation activities for a healthy, active lifestyle. Your OT team provides recommendations to the caregivers to support your goals. Together, we’ll monitor your progress and provide follow-up care. 

Speech therapy for cognitive changes affecting communication

Changes in communication may evolve with cognitive decline. Our speech-language pathologists help develop personalized communication goals. They recommend exercises and changes to your behavior and environment to help improve your ability to communicate effectively. We’ll provide recommendations for the caregiver to help support the treatment goals.

Speech therapy for cognitive changes affecting swallowing

Coughing or choking can be present with cognitive impairment. Our team works with you and your caregiver to create modifications to feeding and drinking routines. A family member or caregiver needs to be at the speech therapy sessions. Working together, we can help patients improve a swallowing problem.

Neurological disorders can affect many parts of your body, specifically how your muscles, nerves, brain and spine work. If you answer YES to any of these questions, then physical therapy (PT) may be an option as part of your recovery. 

• Are you having problems rolling over or getting in and out of bed?
• Have you had any falls while standing? For example, have you fallen during an activity that you could do safely prior, such as putting on pants or moving around your home?
• Has walking become more unsteady?
• Do you avoid walking outside or avoid walking alone? Do you feel less confident with your mobility?
• Are you having much more difficulty getting up and down stairs?

Driving provides freedom and independence, adds quality of life, and allows for social and community engagement. Our driver readiness program is an evidenced-based assessment provided by an occupational therapist. Our therapist evaluates individuals who have experienced medical illness, injury, physical challenges from aging, and progressive neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive challenges. We assess the skills required to safely operate a vehicle in the community. 

In-clinic driving assessment:  A licensed occupational therapist evaluates the following required skills to determine your potential to drive:

• Cognitive skills
• Coordination
• Reaction time
• Strength
• Visual scanning
• Visual perception 

The driver readiness assessment also includes recommendations for additional therapy and the need for driver compensations or adaptive equipment. We may also recommend behind-the-wheel training, if needed, to help make your driving safer and easier for you. The results from your driver readiness assessment will be shared with your referring doctor who makes the final decision about your ability to drive.

To schedule a driver’s readiness assessment, call 262-641-4280.

Vestibular rehabilitation can be helpful for treating vertigo, dizziness, and conditions that make you unsteady. Lauren Doyle, DPT,  is a doctor of physical therapy certified in vestibular therapy. Dr. Doyle has specialized training to evaluate vestibular system disorders: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD), vestibular neuritis, vestibular labyrinthitis, and vestibular migraines. She uses infrared goggles, along with clinical testing, to determine if an individual’s dizziness and imbalance are coming from the vestibular system or the brain. 

Vestibular rehabilitation may include an evaluation of symptoms related to a concussion. Our clinic team evaluates symptoms and provides treatments using exercises, manual therapy for the neck and head, and specialized balance training equipment to help you improve your quality of life. 

A doctor referral is required to schedule a vestibular rehabilitation appointment. Call 262-641-4280. Our team will communicate with your primary care doctor, neurologist, ENT and audiologist to help manage your symptoms and support your care plan.

Neurological physical therapy (PT) provides a specialized evaluation and treatment plan for individuals with a movement problem from a brain, spine or nervous system disorder. Your therapist starts by listening to understand you and your needs. Our PTs have advanced training to help restore, improve or adapt functions you may have lost. They focus on areas affected by the neurological disorder, including balance, coordination and strength.

Lauren Doyle, PT, DPT, ATC, CMTPT

Lauren Doyle has her doctorate in physical therapy and a certificate in vestibular therapy from Duke University. She is a board-certified athletic trainer and is certified in myofascial trigger-point dry needling. She has a special interest in treating vestibular disorders, functional movement disorders, neurological diseases, and fall prevention.

Michelle Prudlow, PT

Michelle Prudlow is a board-certified physical therapist. She has completed special training in neurodevelopmental treatments. She has a special interest in comprehensive evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease or injury of the nervous system, cancer or falls. She focuses on whole-person care using the latest therapeutic interventions.

Occupational therapy (OT) helps support you and your care plan to improve or maintain your participation in activities of daily living. Your OT uses neurorehabilitation strategies, evaluations and treatments to help manage your symptoms and support your neurological recovery goals. 

Susan Cobb, OTR, CLT-LANA, CLWT, CMTPT/DN

Sue Cobb is a board-certified occupational therapist. She is certified in lymphedema therapy and wound therapy by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) and International Lymphedema & Wound Training Institute (ILWTI), and is certified in myofascial trigger-point dry needling. She has a special interest in treating patients with head and neck cancer and lymphedema.

Jenny Stuber, MS, OTR/L

Jenny Stuber is a board-certified occupational therapist and is certified in the LSVT BIG Parkinson’s disease treatment approach. She has a special interest in working with upper extremity recovery after neurological injury, cognition deficits affecting daily functions, lifestyle management of chronic conditions, and driver’s readiness evaluations. She enjoys working with patients to help increase independence and incorporate safety into their daily routines.

Your speech-language pathologist (SLP), also referred to as a speech therapist, evaluates a patient after the stroke and provides communication and swallowing therapies based on your health needs. They use aphasia-friendly materials to help improve voice and swallowing problems. A SLP also delivers specialized speech and language therapy for conditions that affect your cognitive and neuromuscular abilities.   

Traci Elkin, MS, CCC-SLP

Traci Elkin is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist (speech therapist) who treats patients with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders using strategies that address the needs and goals of each patient and their support system. In college, she minored in psychology and family studies and incorporates counseling and education as an important part of treatment.