An often overlooked statistic is that between 10 and 60% of TBI survivors go on to develop speech difficulties. Why does this happen?
Dysarthria occurs when parts of the brain that are central to controlling the muscles involved in speech are damaged. This condition should not be confused with aphasia. Aphasia often impacts an individual’s ability to comprehend language, whereas dysarthria affects an individual’s ability to use speech muscles, but they tend to still comprehend language and know what they want to say.
Damaged areas of the brain that are commonly associated with dysarthria include:
The extent of slurred speech will largely depend on the severity of damage to the brain. In many cases, the individual’s speech can be improved after several months of rehabilitative speech therapy.
The road to recovery after a TBI can be a long one. In many cases, a full recovery isn’t possible. Victims will need extensive medical and rehabilitative treatment as well as the support of family and friends. As communication is vital in most workplaces, a brain injury of this type can mean that it is no longer possible to earn a regular income.
If your brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to hold them to account. Personal injury compensation can cover your medical costs, pain and suffering and lost wages. Gathering as much legal information as possible will help you to build a strong case.
]]>Certainly, no one wants to be falsely accused of sexual assault. However, don’t victims have a right to name the person who assaulted them – even if it’s too late to hold them criminally accountable and they choose to hold them civilly liable as their only recourse?
There have been some high-profile cases in recent years where men accused of assault sued their accusers for defamation. In one case, involving singer Kesha and a music producer, they reached a settlement. In another, involving Taylor Swift and a DJ, after he sued her for defamation, she sued him for sexual assault and won.
On Jan. 1 of this year, California changed state law so that it’s more difficult for someone to sue a sexual assault accuser for defamation. The law, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed late last year, now states, “A communication made by an individual, without malice, regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination is privileged.”
For someone to successfully hold a person liable for defamation, they must prove that they acted out of malice or ill will. As you may know, Gov. Newsom’s wife Jennifer is among the women who have testified that they were raped by disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.
Further, if an alleged perpetrator loses a defamation suit, they now have to pay their accuser’s “reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending themselves in the litigation, plus treble damages for any harm caused to them by the defamation action against them.”
The law professor behind the new law was incentivized by her own assault and is now taking her fight to other states. She notes that it seems to have become more common for those accused of assault to turn around and sue their accusers for defamation. Because famous men have done it, others have felt emboldened to do the same. Unlike Kesha and Taylor Swift, many accusers don’t have the means to battle them in court.
In recent years, California has given survivors of sexual abuse and assault more time to hold their perpetrators liable. With this latest change to the law, they have less chance of being sued for defamation and, if they are, of having to face financial consequences. Getting experienced legal guidance is the best first step in this journey.
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