Ernest J. Bordini, Ph.D. , Licensed Psychologist More than 30 years experience in providing pediatric neuropsychological evaluations to the Florida community
and beyond.
Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida Main office Gainesville
Florida: 2121 NW 40th Terr. Ste B, Gainesville, FL 32605 Ocala Office: 3620 NE 8th Place, Ste 3, Ocala FL 34470 Phone:
(352) 336-2888
Fax: 352-377-1056
|
What is a pediatric neuropsychologist? A pediatric neuropsychologist, in most states, must be a licensed psychologist. Neuropsychologists
have doctoral degrees in clinical psychology or neuropsychology and may have minor or major concentration or subspecialty
formal graduate edication, and have supervised training in neuropsychology and pediatric neuropsychology in doctoral, internship,
and post-doctoral levels. Pediagric neuropsychologist's extensive training and supervised experience usually involves normal
and abnormal brain anatomy, child development, study of brain diseases and dysfunction, and extensive training in using psychological
tests to assess brain functioning. Most psychology licensing boards require a year of internship,
which may be pre-doctoral as well as one year of supervised residency. Modern definitions of a neuropsychologist now usually
require graduate level training and supervision and two years of supervised post-doctoral experience. A psychologist should not hold themselves out as a neuropsychologist with graduate
training and supervision in the field. It is generally recognized that taking continuing education courses after licensure
is not sufficient. In most states, calling an assessment a psychological assessment or neuropsychological assessment
is limited to licensed psychologists. Sometimes unlicensed providers or individuals who may not be specifically trained as
rigorously as neuropsychologists may call their assessment reports by other names. Pediatric neuropsychology is a field of study involving the relationship of abilities, behavior, attention, language, visusopatial, memory, intelligence,
motor, and sesnory perceptual abilities in children. Clinical, pediatric neuropsychology (neuropsych) involves the application
of this field to the diagnostic assessment and clinical treatment of normal and abnormal child developmental, medical, psychiatric,
and neurological conditions or problems. The field shares a knowledge base with other professions such as pediatric neurology. A child or pediatric neuropsychologist may work or consult with pediatricians, pediatric
specialists in behavioral neurology, developmental pediatricians, child psychiatrists, occupational therapists and speech
and language therapists.
 Pediatric or child neuropsychologists have training and experience in applying neuropsychological assessment
or treatment techniques to children. Since children mature, they are faced with varying age-specific challenges in terms of
their academic and social development. Far more than a simple downward extension of adult neuropsychology, the pediatric neuropsychology
involves an understanding of normal and abnormal child development and learning, developmental motor skills, and language
disorders as well as diseases associated with children.
Pediatric
or child neuropsychologists commonly assess children for problems such as Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), brain injuries, cerebral palsy, intellectual disorders, learning disorders such as dyslexia or math difficulties, and disorders of language. Evaluations aasses coordination
difficulties, sensory-motor integration difficuoties, reasoning, impulse control, and executive functions and also examine
mood, psychiatric, and psychosical disorders and contributors. Evaluations
are often more detailed than simply involving ability assessment and assumptions are made about brain-behavior relationships.
Pediatric neuropsychological assessments are aso performed to evaluate neurological conditions such as effects of a tumor, anoxia, hydrocephalus,
birth complications, or toxic exposures. Assessment can also involve neurocognitive or other neurodevelopmental difficulties
associated with epilepsy, kidney disease, and other medical conditions. Problems may involve subtle or not so subtle deficits.
Neuropsychologists trained in medical settings such as hospitals often have more supervised training and experience in assessing
these and rarer conditions. Pediatric neuropsychological evaluatoins are also often performed for pre-surgical and post-surgical
neurological interventions for control of epilepsy or brain tumors.
Since children's skills go through periods of rapid change, and they are faced with increasing cognitive and
academic demands with each passing year, there is often a need to conduct periodic re-assessments. Some conditions may not
impact until later years, such as when facing the multi-tasking demands of middle school, or the increased volume of work
and writing demands of high school.
Results of pediatric or
child neuropsychology assessments may be used to assist in diagnosis, to assist with educational placement or remediation,
clinical treatment planning, rehabilitation, formulating accommodations, disability determinations, determing the effects
of medication or surgery, or in rarer cases in matters involving criminal responsibility or criminal competency. Applications of neuropsychological assessment to legal
proceedings or determinations is termed forensic neuropsychology.
When choosing a clinic or neuropsychologist to
conduct a neuropsychological evaluation on your child, it is wise to ensure the individual providing or supervising the services
is a licensed psychologist with training involving both neuropsychological assessment and with children and adolescents.
Dr. Bordini earned his Ph.D. in Clincial and Health Psychology
from the University of Florida with a minor in neuropsychology. He completed graduate training and had graduate supervised
practicum experiences in child neuropsycholgy, adult neuropsychology, and medical psychology in clinics at Shands UF and North
Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center. Dr. Bordini had internship rotations in psychiatry, mental health, additions, neurology
and forensic psychology during his internship at the VAMC in Gainesville, and further experience in pediatric neuropsychological
experience during his post-doctoral training and later pediatric neuropsychology practice at Grant Center Hospitla and Charter
Hospital pediatic units or hospitals. Pediatric neuropsychology was a developing field then. Dr.
Bordini is one of few pediatric neuropsycholgists in Florida who has 30 years of experience. He was the first president of
the Florida Psychological Association Neuropsychology Interest Division. He was awarded the Molly Harrower Award for diagnostic
excellence. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 = CALL: (352)-336-2888 E-MAIL info@cpancf.com
 |
Ernest J. Bordini, Ph.D., Executive Director Licensed Psychologist More than 30 years of experience in Adult and Pediatric Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychology Named a Distinguished Psychologist by the Florida
Psychological Association
 |
Pediatric or child neuropsychology is a field of study involving the relationship of abilities,
behaviors and mental skills (cognitive functions) in children. Clinical, pediatric or child neuropsychology (neuropsych) involves
the application of this field to diagnostic assessment and clinical treatment of normal and abnormal child developmental,
medical, psychiatric, and neurological conditions or problems. The field shares a knowledge base with other professions. A
child or pediatric neuropsychologist may work with other pediatric specialists in behavioral neurology, developmental pediatrics,
pediatric neurology, child psychiatry, pediatricians, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. Neuropsychologists
are licensed as psychologists or in some states neuropsychologists. By definition, in almost all states, these individuals
have doctoral degrees from accredited programs by the American Psychological Association usually in clinical psychology or
neuropsychology. To be considered a neuropsychologist one must have formal graduate level training and clinically supervised
experience in neuropsychology. Most psychology licensing boards require a year of internship, which may be pre-doctoral
as well as one year of supervised residency. Modern definitions of a neuropsychologist now usually require graduate level
training and supervision and two years of supervised post-doctoral experience. A psychologist should not hold themselves
out as a neuropsychologist with graduate training and supervision in the field. It is generally recognized that taking continuing
education courses after licensure is not sufficient. Neuropsychologists extensive training and supervised experience
usually involves normal and abnormal brain anatomy, study of brain diseases and dysfunction, and extensive training in using
psychological tests to assess brain functioning. In most states, calling an assessment a psychological assessment or neuropsychological
assessment is limited to licensed psychologists. Sometimes unlicensed providers or individuals who may not be specifically
trained as rigorously as neuropsychologists may call their assessment reports by other names. Pediatric or child
neuropsychologists have training and experience in applying neuropsychological assessment or treatment techniques to children.
Since children mature, they are faced with varying age-specific challenges in terms of their academic and social development.
Far more than a simple downward extension of adult neuropsychology, the pediatric neuropsychology involves an understanding
of normal and abnormal child development and learning, developmental motor skills, and language disorders as well as diseases
associated with children. Pediatric or child neuropsychologists commonly assess children for attention problems such
as Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disorders such as dyslexia or math difficulties, disorders of
language and/or coordination difficulties. Evaluations are often more detailed than simply involving ability assessment and
assumptions are made about brain-behavior relationships. Evaluations may also involve assessments of Autism Spectrum Disorders
which inclue autism, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Assessments are aso performed to evaluate
neurological conditions such as effects of a tumor, anoxia, birth complications, Cerebral Palsy, toxic exposures, head injuries
or concussions. They may involve subtle or not so subtle deficits which may be involved with anemia, kidney disease or other
metabolic diseases, and the effects of treatments or interventions which may impact on neurological or neuropsychological
functions. Since children's skills go through periods of rapid change, and they are faced with increasing cognitive and
academic demands with each passing year, there is often a need to conduct periodic re-assessments. Some conditions may not
impact until later years, such as when facing the multi-tasking demands of middle school, or the increased volume of work
and writing demands of high school. Results of pediatric or child neuropsychology assessments may be used to assist in
diagnosis, to assist with educational placement or remediation, clinical treatment planning, rehabilitation, formulating accommodations,
disability determinations, determing the effects of medication or surgery, or in rarer cases in matters involving criminal
responsibility or criminal competency. Applications of neuropsychological assessment to legal proceedings or determinations
is termed forensic neuropsychology. When choosing a clinic or neuropsychologist to conduct a neuropsychological evaluation
on your child, it is wise to ensure the individual providing or supervising the services is a licensed psychologist with training
involving both neuropsychological assessment and with children and adolescents. Asking how many child or adolescent evaluations
are typically completed in a year or month may help you determine the level of experience with children the neuropsychologist
or clinic may have. Asking about the extent of supervised experience in child neuropsychology and where this training was
obtained is advised along with obtaining information as to the overall number of years of experience. Asking your pediatrician
or family doctor for a recommendation is wise. If a neuropsychologist is or has practiced child neuropsychology or trained
in a hospital setting this would generally suggest the individual's credentials have been reviewed and that they likely had
training in more serious and rare conditions. The more assessments a neuropsychologist or clinic conducts, the more likely
that the neuropsychologist may use psychometricians or psychology assistants to assist with test administration and scoring.
However, the neuropsychologist is always responsible for the interpretating the results and producing a report. The neuropsychologist
will always maintain an active role in observing, interacting with, questioning,taking developmental, neuropsychological,
and social history, and examining the child. Providing Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment for Children and
Adolescents for 25 years.Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida Ernest J. Bordini, Ph.D., Executive Director Licensed Psychologist Adult and Pediatric Clinical and Forensic
Neuropsychology Jennifer Evans, Psy.D., licensed psychologist. Specializing in adult and late adolescent
psychotherapy. Regilda Romero, Ph.D. Psychology Resident Pediatric Neuropsychology
*residents and trainees are under supervision of Dr. Bordini Concussions and Head Injury, ADHD, LD
Neuropsychological assessment is a proven method of evaluation which is sensitive
to brain dysfunction even in cases where imaging studies such as CT scans or MRIs cannot find significant abnormality. Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment is often critical in assessing the abilities and impairments of childhood
traumatic brain injury or children who have suffered anoxia or childhood brain tumors or cancer. Executive functions
which involve impulse control, attention, planning and organization are often problem areas in children with ADHD and those
who suffer head injuries or anoxia. Children who suffer Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, predominantly inattentive
type often have slower processing speed and since they are not as disruptive, may not get diagnoses as often or as early as
the mixed or hyperactive subtypes. Females have a higher incidence of inattentive type than males and males have a higher
incidence of mixed and hyperactive types. Nonverbal learning disability is also often missed since it is less obvious,
but can be associated with math difficulties as well as social skill and peer relationship difficulties. Pediatric and
child neuropsychologists often assess memory and learning. Information from such evaluations are often helpful in determing
how your child or adolescent learns best. Memory assessment will usually examine verbal and nonverbal memory, learning
rates, retention rates and examine for retrieval difficulties. Thorough assessment will examine working memory, rote memory,
supraspan memory, and memory for material that is provided in context. This has diagnostic utility and is important in establishing
what may help the child compensate for any difficulties. Children who suffer early brain injuries or early neurological
conditions are often more difficult to assess, since functions may not be organized in the same way as a normally developed
adult. Furthermore some deficits associated with early injuries may not be apparent until the demands and changes of adolescence
or even adulthood. ADDITIONAL TOPICS Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents Concussion and
Head Injury Classifications Neuropsychological Assessment Forensic Neuropsychology Child and Adolescent
Services Coping with Major Medical Illness Articles and Archives Staff Vitas Clinical Psychology E-Magazine Join Mailing List Forums and Resources at ourNeuropsychologyCentral.com Searching for Psychology or Neuropsych
Jobs? Memory Disorder Clinic Third Party Observers Pediatric Cancer This
site is protected by Trustwave's Trusted Commerce program Parent interviews and
questionnares are usually necessary, and in many cases school and medical records are reviewed. Teacher ratings are also frequently
requested. Children and adolescents often pose special challenges in assessment. While most children are familar with
being tested due to their school experience, sometimes one or more sessions may be necessary to help establish rapport. The examiner usually needs to provide more encouragement and breaks than may be necessary for adult patients. Assessments
may require a day or two, or in some cases a number of half-days. The often considerable expense must be weighed in the context
of the professional time involved as well as the importance of ruling out other disorders or complicating factors which may
be important in appropriate treatment planning. Since the results of an assessment may impact medical care, rehabilitation
planning, or in some cases placement or eligibility for benefits or services for months or years, it is easy to understand
the importance of accurate and thorough assessment. More information about our range of psychological and neuropsychological
assessment and other services is available by clicking on the following link: More about neuropsychological assessment. We appreciate and suggestions or comments to help us make pediatric neuropsychology . com a better site.
Powered by Register.com
|
|