Can birdwatching help stroke recovery? Researchers say it could aid communication skills

In Montana, in the United States, a surprising animal has become part of stroke patients’ recovery journey.Cooper's hawks, a bird native to North America, may offer stroke survivors a chance to connect, talk, and build community around birdwatching, helping them regain communication skills often lost after a stroke. One of the most common consequences of a stroke is impaired ability to speak, understand speech, read, and write, known as aphasia. It affects approximately one-third of stroke survivors — an estimated 11,000 people acquire it every day. “Aphasia is an identity theft,” said Catherine Off, a researcher at the University of Montana. “People with aphasia do not have intellectual challenges. They are themselves inside their own head.