Goals of this rotation include a greater understanding of common childhood disorders, including etiology, trajectory, and empirically supported treatments. Interns will also develop increased proficiency in administration of psychological and neuropsychological tests with children. Participants will also gain skills in integrating and presenting complex feedback information to parents, as well as synthesizing key information in comprehensive reports.a

Required activities include performing evaluations of the type described above, giving case presentations at the ABL case conferences, participating in discussions of others’ cases, jointly providing feedback to parents about evaluation results, developing specific intervention plans, becoming knowledgeable about specific community resources and relevant legal issues, and writing reports. Students will also be expected to do some readings about various disorders affecting cognitive performance. It is required that interns work on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Wednesdays are ideal as case conference meetings will be some Wednesdays from 12 to 2 pm.

Optional activities include further readings and participation in research activities. Students who enter with some previous training in neuropsychology may participate in more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.

There is a close integration of research and practice in this clinic, and the overall theoretical perspective derives from developmental cognitive neuroscience and behavioral and molecular genetics. So, there is a considerable emphasis on understanding the genetic and environmental risk and protective factors that have shaped the development of the client’s cognitive and psychosocial profile, and on empirically-supported treatments for helping to optimize the client’s development.

Clinical activities include individual evaluation, development of skill in relating to school personnel both for information gathering as well as to facilitate subsequent intervention, and providing education to parents and school personnel regarding the nature of a child’s difficulties.

Clients seen at this clinic are referred from the community, frequently by pediatricians, psychiatrists, tutors, and psychologists. The age range of clients is approximately age 5 through college-age.

Video.