Dr. Joanna Atkinson

I am a research psychologist and qualified clinical psychologist with a special interest in neuropsychology and psycholinguistics.
I have experience working in both clinical and research fields.

Between 1999-2002 I worked as a researcher on the Deaf Stroke Project, exploring the impact of stroke (CVA) on BSL comprehension and production. I completed a doctorate in clinical psychology at Bristol University in 2005 and a post-doctoral diploma in applied clinical neuropsychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, London in 2008.
I have worked clinically with both deaf and hearing service-users in: mental health; community learning disability; older adult and neuropsychology teams within the National Health Service.

My research interests include: The impact of neurological conditions such as stroke and dementia on BSL; schizophrenia, psychosis and voice-hallucinations in deaf people and the clinical assessment of acquired and developmental neurological conditions in Deaf people.

My main role within DCAL is the coordination and implementation of research into atypical sign language, which include signers with stroke, autism, dementia, schizophrenia and Usher syndrome.

STROKE AND DEAF PEOPLE INFORMATION
I worked on the Deaf Stroke Project which ran from 1999-2002 at City University and was funded by the Wellcome Trust. This project has ended but there is some useful information about stroke and Deaf BSL users under the following links:

What happens when a deaf person has a stroke? (Information leaflet)

What were the results of the Deaf Stroke Project? (Information leaflet)

How can a stroke affect a deaf BSL users' communication abilities? (Research paper)

Both leaflets are designed to be visually accessible to deaf people who have aphasia (acquired language difficulties) after suffering a stroke.

SCHIZOPHRENIA, VOICE HALLUCINATIONS AND DEAF PEOPLE Go to the project website for more information.

You can access information on some of my publications here.

Contact: Dr. Joanna Atkinson