Belgium's Rom Houben uses his touchscreen and assistance of his speech therapist Linda Wouters, left, to communicate during an interview at the service center ' t Weyerke in Zolder, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Houben was misdiagnosed for 23 years as being in a coma until a doctor at Liege University discovered three years ago that Houben's brain was still functioning. Houben was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state following a car crash in 1983. The discovery took place three years ago but only recently came to light, after publication of a study on the misdiagnosis of people with consciousness disorders. AP Photo logo AP Photo 27 months ago

Belgium's Rom Houben uses his touchscreen and assistance of his speech therapist Linda Wouters, left, to communicate during an interview at the service center ' t Weyerke in Zolder, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Houben was misdiagnosed for 23 years as being in a coma until a doctor at Liege University discovered three years ago that Houben's brain was still functioning. Houben was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state following a car crash in 1983. The discovery took place three years ago but only recently came to light, after publication of a study on the misdiagnosis of people with consciousness disorders.