How to Use a Fork: Orlando Swayne on Brain Recovery

Dr Orlando Swayne, MA (Cantab), MB BS, MRCP (Neurol), PhD, is a consultant neurologist specialising in neurorehabilitation following acquired brain injury, including stroke, alongside a broad general neurology practice. He is a consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, where he is lead neurologist for the Neurorehabilitation Unit, and is a member of the Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation at the UCL Institute of Neurology. He also works at Northwick Park Hospital and the Wellington Hospital. He has published widely on the control of movement by the brain and the role of brain plasticity in recovery following stroke. His book, How to Use a Fork, brings together the science of brain plasticity with stories of survival, adaptation and recovery. In this episode of Neurovoices, ACNR Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr Ann Donnelly speaks to consultant neurologist and author Dr Orlando Swayne about his book, How to Use a Fork: Stories of Mending the Broken Brain. Drawing on the experiences of people recovering from stroke and other acquired brain injuries, Orlando discusses the science of neuroplasticity and the realities of neurorehabilitation. He explains why recovery does not necessarily stop after six months, how intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation can help people rebuild skills and independence, and why access to appropriate services remains uneven. The conversation also explores the role of skilled therapists alongside new technologies, the neurologist’s place within the rehabilitation team, and complex cognitive problems including neglect, inattention and apraxia. Orlando also discusses the ethical challenges of writing about patients and why neurology provides such rich material for storytelling. Join the ACNR online neurology community: https://acnr.co.uk/acnr-online-commun... Further information Orlando Swayne’s UCLH profile: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/... Orlando Swayne’s ACNR author profile: https://acnr.co.uk/acnr-author/orland... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:44 Why write How to Use a Fork? 4:10 Access to neurorehabilitation 6:39 Neuroplasticity and technology 10:14 Writing about patients 13:18 Recovery after stroke 13:54 Writing about neurology 16:03 Why neurologists write 17:47 The writing process 19:37 Explaining complex neuroscience 20:53 Training in neurorehabilitation 23:54 The neurologist’s role in rehabilitation 25:32 Multidisciplinary rehabilitation 27:46 Why choose neurorehabilitation?