Lori Cook, M.S., CCC/SLP
Research Coordinator
Doctoral Student

Research/ Clinical Interests: Cognitive-linguistic recovery after pediatric brain injury

Ms. Cook directs the Child Head Injury Project that follows children with traumatic brain injuries from the time of their injury to 2 years post-injury, examining factors such as memory, inhibition, social problem solving, and academic performance. She conducts research evaluations and provides information and referrals to families participating in the study. In addition, she works with the radiology team on another component of the project examining memory functioning during functional brain imaging. Clinically, she contributes to the strategic learning intervention program, working primarily with children with ADD/ADHD.

Ms. Cook has also been involved in research investigating the long-term recovery of discourse skills as well as executive function abilities (e.g., self-regulation, planning, problem-solving), contributing to the development of new assessment and intervention tools.

Email: lori.cook@utdallas.edu

Nyaz Didehbani, Ph.D.
Research Clinician

Research/Clinical Interests: Social Cognition, Cognitive Restructuring, and Functional Brain Imaging

Ms. Didehbani conducts clinical research on the social cognition team which incorporates psychological assessments, brain imaging, and a brief intervention designed to enhance social skills among children and adults diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, TBI, and Schizophrenia. The hope is to gain a better understanding of social cognition in these populations to develop effective measurements and future interventions. Previously, Ms. Didehbani administered psychological and neuropsychological tests to a diverse in- and out-patient population, worked to improve social and language skills of children with autism, and performed cognitive therapy on TBI patients in a neurocognitive rehabilitation facility. She has served on the Texas Psychological Association Student Division as the Psi Chi/Psi Beta Liaison and has presented in both state and national conferences.    

Email: nyaz.didehbani@utdallas.edu

Elizabeth Hull , M.A., CCC/SLP
Research Coordinator

Research/Clinical Interests: Reasoning skills and gist-based processing in children and adolescents with ADHD/ADD

Ms. Hull brings extensive clinical experience with her to the Center for BrainHealth. She has worked with children with language disorders, autism, ADHD/ADD, and other developmental delays at Our Children's House at Baylor as well as in the public school system. At the Center for BrainHealth, Ms. Hull closely assists Dr. Jacque Gamino, the Center's ADHD Research Head, in conducting research for SMART (Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training), an innovative program designed to improve brain efficiency and learning in children with ADHD. In this role, Ms. Hull administers assessments to precisely determine strategic learning deficiencies. She also oversees intervention with adolescent ADHD populations with strategic learning deficits.

Email: ehull@utdallas.edu

Michelle Kandalaft , Ph.D.
Research Clinician

Research Interests: Populations with learning differences, ADHD, pervasive developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

Dr. Kandalaft recently completed her doctoral degree at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, where she studied clinical psychology. For her dissertation, she analyzed a common computer test used to evaluate children suspected of having ADHD. At the Center for BrainHealth, Dr. Kandalaft concentrates on assessing, scoring, and interpreting data for the Center's social cognition and pediatric TBI projects. Her goal is to construct valid, time-efficient assessments and interventions for these populations.

Email: kandalaft@utdallas.edu

Molly Keebler, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Community Programs

Research Interests: Healthy aging, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, community education

Ms. Keebler directs the Healthy Aging project that evaluates healthy aging adults who are concerned about changes in their memory or thinking skills. She administers brain physicals, which provide a baseline that is used as a marker of cognitive function for future comparison. She also assesses the cognitive-linguistic function of people who have had strokes and provides short-term intensive intervention, strategies and recommendations to improve their ability to effectively function in the community. Ms. Keebler presents educational talks to groups around the metroplex about brain health; and she trains volunteers to run stroke support groups for people with aphasia in area churches.

Email: molly.keebler@utdallas.edu

Audette Rackley, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Special Programs

Research/Clinical Interests: Healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, discourse therapy, community education

Ms. Rackley develops and conducts programs for individuals with early and moderate stage Alzheimer's disease which focus on tapping preserved abilities to optimize function and enhance quality of life. She was selected to participate on the committee to develop and write practice guidelines for the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. She has presented at national, state and area meetings providing education to professionals and lay people on research findings, communication strategies and programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. She is a lecturer in graduate level classes in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology on dementia signs and symptoms, communication changes and intervention techniques. Ms. Rackley is currently writing a book presenting a hopeful message for individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Email: arackley@utdallas.edu

Tandra Toon, M.S., CCC/SLP
Research Coordinator

Research/Clinical Interests: Social pragmatic skills among adult and pediatric populations

Ms. Toon leads the social cognition project studying pediatric and adult populations with social difficulties such as Autism, Schizophrenia, and other spectrum disorders.  In past roles, she has provided brain injury education to area school districts and administrators.  At the Center for BrainHealth, Ms. Toon administers assessments and intervention that promote social skills across daily living. The intervention that she oversees includes virtual technology which allows the practice of various social situations to help train the brain to react and respond effectively.  Her study also incorporates the use of EEG and fMRI scans with adult participants as an additional measure for social emotion.

She comes to the Center for BrainHealth following clinical experience working directly with adults and children with ADHD, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury.  She is a graduate of Baylor University.

E-mail: Tandra.Toon@utdallas.edu 

Jennifer Zientz, M.S., CCC/SLP
Head of Clinical Services

Research/Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementias, healthy aging, strategic learning, pediatric ADHD, functional brain imaging

Ms. Zientz conducts cognitive-linguistic evaluations of adults with Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, and other types of dementia, supplies diagnostic information to referring physicians, and provides feedback to patients and families on ways to optimize abilities. She also administers brain physicals to healthy aging adults to establish a baseline of cognitive-linguistic function. She participates in the clinical research investigating strategic learning intervention for children with ADHD, as well as in the research studying functional brain imaging in children with traumatic brain injury. She was selected to participate on the committee to develop and write practice guidelines for the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences. She has presented at national, state, and area meetings about research findings, communication strategies, and services for individuals with Alzheimers. She has lectured to graduate and undergraduate classes in Communication Disorders on signs and symptoms of dementia, subsequent changes in communication, and diagnostic techniques.

Email: jennifer.zientz@utdallas.edu