Podcasts about pediatric neuropsychology

Joining us for this episode of the podcast is Dr. Vindia Fernandez, who has been on the show before back in episode 3. Dr. Fernandez earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Houston and completed her APA-accredited internship and fellowship at UCLA, specializing in neurodevelopmental issues like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. As founder of the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology and director at UCLA's Cultural Neuropsychology Program, her focus is on culturally appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children and teaching social skills to neurodiverse youth. Dr. Fernandez discusses how bilingualism in children is often misunderstood and that it's usually good for cognitive development. She also elaborates upon some red flags when it comes to identifying possible learning disabilities such as dyslexia and how her procedures differ depending on whether or not the bilingual child is in an English-only classroom or if the child is in a dual language immersion program. She reflects on some of her frustrations around how bilingual children are assessed and what she hopes to see change in the future. While we have certainly seen great strides and progress in this area, there is still much work to do, such as honoring heritage languages, increasing integration, and identifying problems earlier. Dr. Fernandez is a wealth of knowledge on this topic, and her passion truly shines through.  Show Notes: [2:40] - Assessing bilingual children is a true passion for Dr. Fernandez. [3:44] - She feels that bilingualism in children is often misunderstood. [5:22] - Learning another language is incredibly dynamic and complex and is different for every child. [7:06] - Vindia reflects on a recent change of more children engaged in dual language immersion programs. [9:55] - What red flags should be paid attention to that don't tend to be problems with monolingual children? [13:11] - Vindia explains why her procedures differ depending on whether the bilingual child is in a dual language immersion program. [15:46] - Vindia explains why assessments might need to be done in both of a child's languages. [18:07] - What role do language disorders play in bilingual children? [21:28] - We ultimately want these children to be confident and to reach milestones. [24:15] - “You teach to the skill that you want to see improvement in.” [27:16] - Dr. Fernandez mentions that 50-75% of behavior therapy involves parents.  [30:55] - She gives some helpful advice to parents. Links and Related Resources: Episode 3: Neuropsychological Evaluations Through a Cultural Lens with Dr. Vindia Fernandez Episode 214: Private Neuropsychological Evaluation vs. School Evaluation How to Initiate a Special Education Assessment Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses: Support for Parents Who Have Children with ADHD, Anxiety, or Dyslexia  Connect with Dr. Vindia Fernandez: Dr. Vindia Fernandez's Website Dr. Fernandez's ChildNEXUS Page Email: center@pediatricneuropsych.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc. or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.  

On November 11th, 2021, on day three of a solo multi-day ride on Arizona's Coconino Trail, seven-time world champion adventure athlete Rebecca Rusch clipped her handlebars on a protruding rock, launching her from her bike and into a ravine 10 feet below, where she hit the ground with enough force to bounce multiple times, breaking her helmet and badly bruising her ribs. After self-rescuing off the trail, Rebecca did what pretty much everyone told her to do: rest up and recover. Her ribs mended. Her brain, which had clearly been concussed, didn't. Now, going on three years later, we revisit the crash, what she did in the immediate aftermath, and how experts are thinking about the acute phases of concussion recovery today.Rebecca Rusch is an adventure athlete, 7x World Champion, and 2x Hall of Fame inductee for mountain biking and gravel cycling. She is also a keynote speaker, the bestselling author of Rusch to Glory, and an Emmy Award winner for the documentary Blood Road about her journey to find the spot where her father, a US Air Force pilot, was shot down during the Vietnam War. She is also the founder of the Be Good™ Foundation, which is dedicated to transforming individuals and communities by using the bicycle as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and evolution. You can learn more about her and her work at rebeccarusch.com.This episode also features an interview with Christopher Vaughan, Psy.D., who presented on Rest and the Treatment of Concussion at the 12th Annual Sports Neuropsychology Society Symposium earlier this year. Dr. Vaughan is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children's National Hospital. He is also Associate Professor, in the departments of Pediatrics & Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine, and is Fellow and Treasurer, at the Sports Neuropsychology Society. You can learn more about him and his work at Christopher Vaughan, Psy.D. Get Our Active Women's Guide to Concussion Episode 1 Show Notes and ResourcesMomentous: Use code BRAINSTORM to get 20% off your first order at https://www.livemomentous.com/

This episode is a discussion with Dr. Jennifer Koop about pediatric neuropsychology. Topics covered include a brief history of the subspecialty of pediatric neuropsychology, the importance of involving neuropsychologists in the care of children, common practice settings for these neuropsychologists, contributions from developmental neuroscience and psychology, the transition from adolescence to adulthood, lifespan neuropsychology, and pediatric organizations in neuropsychology.   Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/140 _________________ If you'd like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners' own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Many parents hesitate to jump to a medication treatment for their child's ADHD and ask about alternatives to medication. On this podcast, we have talked about different medication options but also behavioral therapies, mindfulness, and classroom accommodations, but today we're talking about an empirically supported non-medication treatment for ADHD and the results look very promising. Today's guest is Dr. Sandra Loo who researches Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation and its impact on ADHD symptoms in children ages 7-12 at UCLA. In today's episode, she describes what Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) is and how it works to generate brain activity. She also shares the benefits of the treatment and provides updates on how the study is going. It is a very exciting advance in non-medication treatment alternatives for children and you can reach out to Dr. Loo through the links below to participate in the study as well.   Show Notes: [2:44] - The work Dr. Loo is doing with this new treatment is exciting and hopeful. [4:06] - Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation is the first FDA cleared treatment of ADHD of kids ages 7-12 years old. It's a mild stimulation that generates brain activity. Dr. Loo describes the process. [5:15] - After about 4 weeks of nightly stimulation, Dr. Loo has seen improvement in ADHD symptoms. [7:18] - Children on the older side of the 7-12 age range tend to feel comfortable putting the device on themselves. Dr. Loo explains what it might feel like for a child to wear. [9:16] - This isn't medication and results are slower than medication treatment. [10:22] - Improvements show the greatest results in inattention. [11:35] - Dr. Loo is also working on predictors that will help determine what treatment would be best for individual children. [13:08] - One observation from parents is that ADHD symptoms are better and that their child is less emotionally dysregulated. [15:45] - After 4 weeks in the study, they found that stopping the treatment did see an increase in the symptoms again. [17:37] - There are other goals for this treatment that are still being researched. [18:15] - There have not been any adverse side effects of this treatment and everyone responds differently. [20:47] - What are the comparisons to more common medication treatment results? [23:33] - All presentations of ADHD are welcome to participate in this study. [25:23] - Dr. Loo shares how to get more information and who to contact to participate, all of which are linked below. [30:26] - This is a multi-site study, also available in Washington.   About Our Guest: Sandra Loo, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Pediatric Neuropsychology within the Department of Psychiatry, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Loo is a licensed clinical psychologist and translational researcher whose work over the past 25 years has encompassed genetic, electrophysiology (EEG) and neurocognitive biomarkers within ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Currently, her research is focused on the development of empirically supported, non-medication treatments for ADHD. She has published over 150 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters on these and related subjects. Dr. Loo's teaching and clinical activities are focused on comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of youth with pediatric (traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, brain tumors) and psychiatric (ADHD, Specific Learning Disorders, mood and anxiety) disorders. She oversees research and clinical training activities for trainees interested in specializing in ADHD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.   Connect with Dr. Loo: Contact UCLA at 310-825-3735 Email: adhdandmood@ucla.edu UCLA Research Study Participation   Links and Related Resources: Episode 34: Key Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD with Dr. Russell A. Barkley Episode 105: Medication Helps But is Not a Magic Potion for ADHD with Syed Naqvi, MD Mindfulness in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder UCLA: ADHD and Mood   Trying to figure out next steps in supporting your child?  Book a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Karen Wilson - https://www.childnexus.com/consultation    Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.  

Meet Dr. Christen Holder, clinical director of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Dr. Holder specializes in helping kids with epilepsy but has expanded her expertise to work with children with neuropsychological needs across the hospital. Her goal is to help families understand their child's condition and help their child best succeed.

When is it important to consider an evaluation for your child? Well, the earlier the better. But then the question is, what are the differences between evaluations and which is best for your child? My guest on today's episode helps break it down and dives deep into the differences between a neuropsychological evaluation and a psychoeducational evaluation. Not only that, but we also discuss the challenges of evaluating non-English speakers and identifying neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose native language is not English. I am thrilled to have Dr. Vindia Fernandez with me today. Dr. Fernandez is a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental issues including autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and learning disabilities as well as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. As a private practice neuropsychologist in Southern California, she also sees the impact and importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations. Today she shares with us her valuable expertise. Show Notes: [0:48] - Dr. Fernandez is the founder of the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology to address the growing need for appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children. [2:16] - Dr. Fernandez defines a psychoeducational evaluation, as that is the most commonly used assessment offered to parents of school-aged children. [3:40] - A neuropsychological evaluation is not a specific type of evaluation but more an assessment performed by a neuropsychologist. [5:19] - It not only helps identify the learning difficulties a child may have, but also gets deeper into the medical side of things to find possible underlying medical issues. [7:01] - The purpose of an evaluation in schools is different from the evaluations done when a parent goes to see a neuropsychologist.  [8:50] - Psychologists in a private practice have a lot more flexibility in diagnosing as opposed to the more narrow guidelines of a school evaluation. [9:36] - A diagnosis is important but it is what you do with that information that is the most valuable. [11:04] - Dr. Fernandez wrote an article about dyslexia and she discusses some of the reasons why students could have trouble reading. [13:54] - The intervention and accommodations that are recommended as a result of the evaluation will certainly differ depending on what those results are. [15:31] - Oftentimes there is more than one issue that the student is struggling with. All issues need to have an intervention simultaneously. [17:32] - For a period of time, minority or underrepresented populations were overrepresented in special education. [18:44] - Several laws have since been passed as a result of some landmark cases in education. [20:00] - Some immigrant parents may not have a lot of experience with formal education and may feel uncomfortable in a professional setting. [21:49] - Developing rapport with parents is important. [22:37] - The parent interviews and questionnaires that are a part of the evaluation process will vary in detail. Some parents share a lot of information and others do not.  [25:52] - One myth is that bilingual children automatically have a limited vocabulary when they learn two languages simultaneously. [27:42] - We should not overpathologize differences in learning, but working with specific populations, it is important to be aware of various cultures and backgrounds. [29:37] - The types of children Dr. Fernandez usually sees are the ones who are struggling in school in comparison to their peers.  [31:25] - When there's a level of distress associated with the learning difficulty that can't be explained by normal development, the behaviors are red flags. [33:21] - Don't ignore your gut feeling. If you feel that your child is struggling more than their peers, seek an evaluation to determine the root cause of the struggle.   About Our Guest: Dr. Fernandez obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Houston where she studied pediatric neuropsychology and completed research on the neuroanatomical markers of dyslexia. She completed her APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute. Her specialty training includes working with children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental issues including autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and learning disabilities as well as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Dr. Fernandez has also worked closely with the UCLA PEERS Program and developed a passion for teaching social skills to neurodiverse youth. In 2017, Dr. Fernandez founded the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology in part to address the growing need for culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children. She is an attending clinician and volunteer clinical faculty member in the UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence and collaborates with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health on program development and training.   Connect with Dr. Vindia Fernandez: PediatricNeuropsych.com ChildNEXUS Provider Profile - Vindia G. Fernandez, Ph.D.   Links and Resources: ChildNEXUS Home Page Dyslexia Blog Article ChildNEXUS Live Back to School Town Hall   Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.

Why is intervention, particularly early intervention, so important? The answer is brain plasticity, which is the brain's ability to change, reorganize, and even develop more efficient pathways for processing information. Research into the neurological bases of reading disorders, for example, has shown the educational and cognitive strategies can reroute brain networks and the brain can reorganize to overcome reading obstacles. Today's guest shares with us all about early intervention. Dr. Tania Abouezzeddine is a licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist and is also a faculty member at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. In today's episode she explains why early intervention is key and how it results in positive changes in the brain. She not only shares why early intervention is important but how it impacts the development of the brain and the science behind it all.   Show Notes: [2:45] - It is important to understand why a child is struggling before deciding on the intervention. [3:31] - Any good intervention begins with an accurate diagnosis or assessment. [4:28] - What makes a good assessment? [5:52] - A lot of times, children are more likely to be labeled with behavior disorders. [6:55] - Tania shares research surrounding behavior disorders diagnosed to particular demographics that result in a negative trajectory. [9:09] - Tania describes some of the negative results of an inaccurate diagnosis or assessment. [10:18] - If an intervention has not begun by age 8, a child with a reading disorder will likely not bridge the gap in their reading. [11:48] - Reading disorders are hereditary. [14:03] - There is evidence that you can change the brain through good, consistent, and intense intervention. [15:19] - External interventions result in a positive change in the brain. [16:24] - The purpose of interventions is not to have a better reading score. [17:43] - Every brain is working at its own pace, but it will improve with intervention and depends on the severity of the disorder. [19:02] - There's a high percentage of children with more than one disorder. [20:17] - The child also needs to understand why an intervention is necessary. [21:59] - Tania works with high school graduates in college who have not been diagnosed and still cannot read independently. That window of time has been missed. [23:23] - Training the brain through early intervention can create new brain pathways that are similar to a child without a disorder over time. [24:46] - Sometimes parents are afraid to know and they avoid an assessment. [26:14] - Early intervention is also important because you can catch these problems before a child becomes jaded. [27:50] - The identification of strengths can help the intervention as well. [30:49] - Knowing strengths shows the child that their weaknesses don't define them. [32:19] - What happens when a child doesn't receive positive early intervention? [34:25] - We all have things we are not good at, but when it comes to reading and learning disorders they can have negative ramifications. [36:02] - Tania shares examples of students who choose majors or professions based on areas of weakness rather than their strengths. [38:41] - Students can also receive a charted plan to help with prioritizing.   About Our Guest: Dr. Abouezzeddine is a licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist (across the lifespan with a specialty in Pediatrics) and is a full-time faculty member at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Southern California where she specialized in childhood trauma and resilience, which continue to be areas of research interest. After the completion of her doctoral studies, Dr. Abouezzeddine went on to specialize in Clinical Neuropsychology, beginning with a clinical internship in Geriatric Neuropsychology at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and continuing on with two additional years of clinical postdoctoral studies in Pediatric Neuropsychology at UCLA's Semel Institute of Neuroscience. Dr. Abouezzeddine specializes in the cognitive assessment of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. ADHD, Autism), Learning Disabilities (e.g. Reading, Math), as well as cognitive impairments related to Traumatic Brain injury or and other medical conditions (e.g. epilepsy). She also occasionally assesses adults and older adults in Arabic schedule permitting. She is fluent in both English and Arabic.    Connect with Tania Abouezzeddine: Website Email: pedsneurola@gmail.com or Tania.Abouezzeddine@gmail.com  ChildNEXUS Provider Profile   Links and Related Resources: Episode 2: Demystifying the Assessment Process Episode 22: How Students with Dyslexia Can Develop the Skills Needed for Reading with Forough Azimi Episode 1: Uncovering Why a Child is Struggling Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.

I saved a fantastic guest for this season finale! Sarah Allen, a pediatric neuropsychologist, provided incredible information on kids. She took a different route with her degree and provides more holistic and comprehensive care for children and adolescents. Dr. Allen also goes into depth about the stressors kids face and the resulting difficulty understanding self-care in adulthood. She connected her own experiences with miscarriage and parenting to her approach and style working with parents and kids. I promise everyone will learn a lot from this episode (even providers)! 

Dr. Judy Ho joins Tim to talk about something that could affect all of us: social media and mental health.  You may have seen her on the TV show called The Doctors, or on the CBS TV network’s Face the Truth. Or, you may have listened to her podcast called Supercharged Life. Judy is a licensed and triple-board certified Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, she’s an author, and she’s a professor at Pepperdine University. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shapingopinion/Social_Media_and_Mental_Health_auphonic.mp3 Did you ever notice when you’re on the Internet, your computer seems to know about what you’re looking for even before you type it into the search box? Or when you’re on social media, how some subjects or people you know tend to pop up in your feed more than others? The algorithms that are built into the online platforms you use are sophisticated, and that’s an understatement. The whole purpose of social media is to get you to log on and stay on for as long as possible. In the process, the platforms watch you. They collect your data and sell it. They use your patterns to help advertisers sell to you. Some critics say they even use your data to manipulate you. That’s why it costs you nothing to join most social media platforms. You aren’t the customer. You are the product. So, to keep you engaged on social media, and coming back for more, the platforms employ some complex psychological techniques to give social media a certain addictive quality. You find yourself checking in on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts anytime you have a spare moment. And sometimes, when you really should be paying attention to the people or things that are right around you. This leads to some questions. Is social media good for you? Is it helping or hurting? Are you better off with it, or would you be better off without it? Just how does social media affect your mental health? Links Dr. Judy Ho (Website) The Doctors, Syndicated TV Show Supercharged Life Podcast, Apple Podcasts The Pomodoro Technique Explained, Forbes Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health, McLean Hospital About this Episode’s Guest Dr. Judy Ho Judy Ho, Ph. D., ABPP, ABPdN, CFMHE is a licensed and triple board-certified Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, a tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University, television and podcast host and published author. She conducts neuropsychological assessments and serves as an expert witness in her private practice, hosts an active research lab, provides expert commentary to media, and is a sought after public speaker. Judy is the author of Stop Self-Sabotage, published by HarperCollins; a book detailing a scientifically driven six-step program which has been translated into 7 additional languages around the world. She maintains a private practice in Manhattan Beach, CA where she specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and expert witness work. She is a co-host on the Emmy Award winning syndicated daytime television talk show The Doctors, and co-host of CBS’s Face the Truth. Her podcast, Supercharged Life, produced by Stage 29 Productions, gives listeners tangible, scientific tools so that everyone can "supercharge" their lives. Dr. Judy became a board certified specialist (ABPP) through the prestigious American Board of Professional Psychology in 2011 and currently serves as one of the chairs of the ABPP Examination Committee. In 2015 she became a board-certified specialist (CFMHE) through the National Board of Forensic Evaluators. In 2019, she became board certified through the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology, where she serves as the chair of the Membership Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee.

Dr. Judy Ho joins Tim to talk about something that could affect all of us: social media and mental health.  You may have seen her on the TV show called The Doctors, or on the CBS TV network's Face the Truth. Or, you may have listened to her podcast called Supercharged Life. Judy is a licensed and triple-board certified Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, she's an author, and she's a professor at Pepperdine University. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shapingopinion/Social_Media_and_Mental_Health_auphonic.mp3 Did you ever notice when you're on the Internet, your computer seems to know about what you're looking for even before you type it into the search box? Or when you're on social media, how some subjects or people you know tend to pop up in your feed more than others? The algorithms that are built into the online platforms you use are sophisticated, and that's an understatement. The whole purpose of social media is to get you to log on and stay on for as long as possible. In the process, the platforms watch you. They collect your data and sell it. They use your patterns to help advertisers sell to you. Some critics say they even use your data to manipulate you. That's why it costs you nothing to join most social media platforms. You aren't the customer. You are the product. So, to keep you engaged on social media, and coming back for more, the platforms employ some complex psychological techniques to give social media a certain addictive quality. You find yourself checking in on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts anytime you have a spare moment. And sometimes, when you really should be paying attention to the people or things that are right around you. This leads to some questions. Is social media good for you? Is it helping or hurting? Are you better off with it, or would you be better off without it? Just how does social media affect your mental health? Links Dr. Judy Ho (Website) The Doctors, Syndicated TV Show Supercharged Life Podcast, Apple Podcasts The Pomodoro Technique Explained, Forbes Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health, McLean Hospital About this Episode's Guest Dr. Judy Ho Judy Ho, Ph. D., ABPP, ABPdN, CFMHE is a licensed and triple board-certified Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, a tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University, television and podcast host and published author. She conducts neuropsychological assessments and serves as an expert witness in her private practice, hosts an active research lab, provides expert commentary to media, and is a sought after public speaker. Judy is the author of Stop Self-Sabotage, published by HarperCollins; a book detailing a scientifically driven six-step program which has been translated into 7 additional languages around the world. She maintains a private practice in Manhattan Beach, CA where she specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and expert witness work. She is a co-host on the Emmy Award winning syndicated daytime television talk show The Doctors, and co-host of CBS's Face the Truth. Her podcast, Supercharged Life, produced by Stage 29 Productions, gives listeners tangible, scientific tools so that everyone can "supercharge" their lives. Dr. Judy became a board certified specialist (ABPP) through the prestigious American Board of Professional Psychology in 2011 and currently serves as one of the chairs of the ABPP Examination Committee. In 2015 she became a board-certified specialist (CFMHE) through the National Board of Forensic Evaluators. In 2019, she became board certified through the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology, where she serves as the chair of the Membership Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee.

Nobel prize winner behavioral economist, Daniel Kahneman's remarkable work brought the concepts of System 1 and System 2 into the mainstream. Contrary to the conventional wisdom which associates human capacity with rational thought and logical thinking (features of system 2), our system 1 (the autopilot) has a much stronger hold on our psyche. It is only the slower and deliberate System 2, or Executive Function, when engaged in conscious self-regulation can overrule the intuitions and freewheeling impulses of the System 1. So why not focus our attention on building System 2?On this episode, author, researcher, neuropsychologist, Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology and professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. George McCloskey returns to discuss life-long implications of strong and well-developed Executive Function skills that open up the capacity to override reflexive thoughts and intuitive judgement and transcend personal limitations.  About George McCloskey, Ph.D.George McCloskey, Ph.D. is a professor and Director of School Psychology Research in the School of Professional and Applied Psychology of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds Diplomate status with the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Dr. McCloskey has amassed 40 years of experience in test development, teaching, research, and assessment and intervention work with a wide range of clients and has developed a comprehensive model of executive functions that can be used to guide assessment and intervention.  He frequently presents at international, national, and state conferences and consults with a number of school districts and private schools nationwide on issues related to improving students' executive functions. Dr. McCloskey is the lead author of the books Assessment and Intervention for Executive Function Difficulties and Essentials of Executive Functions Assessment.  He also is the author of the McCloskey Executive Functions Scales (MEFS) Teacher (2016) and Parent (2019) Forms that have been standardized and published with Schoolhouse Educational Services.  Dr. McCloskey is co-author with his wife, Laurie McCloskey of the children's book titled The Day Frankie Left His Frontal Lobes at Home (in Press). Website:georgemccloskeyphd.comBooks:Assessment and Intervention for Executive Function DifficultiesEssentials of Executive Functions AssessmentMcClosey Executive Function Scales - TestAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show (https://mailchi.mp/7c848462e96f/full-prefrontal-sign-up)

In her book Mirror: The History, author Sabine Melchoir-Bonnet tracks the curious journey of a tiny reflective glass once thought to be the most fascinating invention which over time eventually has gotten demoted to the status of an ordinary gimmick. The mirror that captures the presentation of self in everyday life comes through with its promise of unveiling fascinating yet terrifying personal information. However, there is nothing equivalent to a mirror that successfully reflects back the inner workings of the self. Until that invention becomes a reality, the best tool we have is Executive Function; the capacity to self-reflect.On this episode, author, researcher, neuropsychologist, Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology and  professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. George McCloskey discusses self-regulation, Executive Function, and ways to become self-reliant and the distinctions between learning difficulties and producing difficulties.About George McCloskey, Ph.D.George McCloskey, Ph.D. is a professor and Director of School Psychology Research in the School of Professional and Applied Psychology of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds Diplomate status with the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Dr. McCloskey has amassed 40 years of experience in test development, teaching, research, and assessment and intervention work with a wide range of clients and has developed a comprehensive model of executive functions that can be used to guide assessment and intervention.  He frequently presents at international, national, and state conferences and consults with a number of school districts and private schools nationwide on issues related to improving students' executive functions.  Dr. McCloskey is the lead author of the books Assessment and Intervention for Executive Function Difficulties and Essentials of Executive Functions Assessment.  He also is the author of the McCloskey Executive Functions Scales (MEFS) Teacher (2016) and Parent (2019) Forms that have been standardized and published with Schoolhouse Educational Services.  Dr. McCloskey is co-author with his wife, Laurie McCloskey of the children's book titled The Day Frankie Left His Frontal Lobes at Home (in Press).  Website:georgemccloskeyphd.comBooks:Assessment and Intervention for Executive Function DifficultiesEssentials of Executive Functions AssessmentMcClosey Executive Function Scales - TestAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show (https://mailchi.mp/7c848462e96f/full-prefrontal-sign-up)

When is it important to consider an evaluation for your child? Well, the earlier the better. But then the question is, what are the differences between evaluations and which is best for your child? My guest on today's episode helps break it down and dives deep into the differences between a neuropsychological evaluation and a psychoeducational evaluation. Not only that, but we also discuss the challenges of evaluating non-English speakers and identifying neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose native language is not English. Welcome to Diverse Thinking · Different Learning! I am Dr. Karen Wilson and I am thrilled to have Dr. Vindia Fernandez with me today. Dr. Fernandez is a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental issues including autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and learning disabilities as well as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. As a private practice neuropsychologist in Southern California, she also sees the impact and importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations. Today she shares with us her valuable expertise. Show Notes: [0:48] - Karen introduces Dr. Fernandez and gives her background. Dr. Fernandez is the founder of the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology to address the growing need for culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children. [2:16] - Dr. Fernandez defines a psychoeducational evaluation, as that is the most commonly used assessment offered to parents of school-aged children struggling in an educational setting. It entails different tests that serve the purpose of identifying areas of academic need. [3:40] - A neuropsychological evaluation is not a specific type of evaluation but more an assessment performed by a neuropsychologist. This type of psychologist has extensive training in brain-behavior relationships and neuroanatomy.   [5:19] - A neuropsychological exam not only helps identify the learning difficulties a child may have, but also gets deeper into the medical side of things to find possible underlying medical issues. [7:01] - The purpose of an evaluation in schools is different than the evaluations done when a parent goes to see a neuropsychologist like Dr. Wilson or Dr. Fernandez.  [7:26] - Dr. Fernandez explains how school evaluations work and the purpose they serve in informing services and accommodations in a school setting. There are specific legal mandates on how these evaluations are conducted. [8:50] - Psychologists in a private practice have a lot more flexibility in diagnosing as opposed to the more narrow guidelines of a school evaluation conducted by a school psychologist. [9:36] - An evaluation is only as important or as valid as the recommendations you impart to the family. A diagnosis is important but it is what you do with that information that is the most valuable. [11:04] - Dr. Fernandez wrote an article about dyslexia and today she discusses some of the reasons why students could have trouble reading. [13:54] - The intervention and accommodations that are recommended as a result of the evaluation will certainly differ depending on what those results are. [15:31] - Oftentimes there is more than one issue that the student is struggling with. All issues need to have an intervention simultaneously. Dr. Fernandez explains why that is important. [17:32] - Dr. Fernandez explains that there was a time when Spanish speaking children were evaluated using English language measures to determine whether or not they had intellectual disabilities. They were placed in special education programs en masse. [18:24] - For a period of time, minority or underrepresented populations were overrepresented in special education. [18:44] - Several laws have since been passed as a result of some landmark cases in education. Now the instruments have to be validated for the population that it is being used for. [19:29] - Dr. Fernandez says that when she evaluates a child who doesn't speak English or didn't speak English as their first language, her first thought is about the instruments and whether or not they are appropriate for the child. [20:00] - Something we need to always consider is that some immigrant parents may not have a lot of experience with formal education and may feel uncomfortable in a professional setting. [21:49] - Developing rapport with parents is important. [22:37] - The parent interviews and questionnaires that are a part of the evaluation process will vary in detail. Some parents share a lot of information and others do not. Developing trust and explaining why these questions are important is helpful. [24:39] - Being able to determine what is going on with a child, you have to look at the evaluation and the struggles the child has with a cultural lens. [25:52] - Dr. Fernandez explains a few perpetuating myths, one being that bilingual children automatically have a limited vocabulary when they learn two languages simultaneously. [27:42] - We should not overpathologize differences in learning especially when we are talking about children who are growing up differently. But working with specific populations, it is important to be aware of various cultures and backgrounds. [29:37] - The types of children Dr. Fernandez usually sees are the ones who are struggling in school in comparison to their peers.  [31:25] - When there's a level of distress associated with the learning difficulty that can't be explained by normal development, the behaviors are red flags for a problem that needs to be solved. [33:21] - Don't ignore your gut feeling. If you feel that your child is struggling more than their peers, seek an evaluation to determine the root cause of the struggle.   About Our Guest: Dr. Fernandez obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Houston where she studied pediatric neuropsychology and completed research on the neuroanatomical markers of dyslexia. She completed her APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute. Her specialty training includes working with children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental issues including autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and learning disabilities as well as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Dr. Fernandez has also worked closely with the UCLA PEERS Program and developed a passion for teaching social skills to neurodiverse youth. In 2017, Dr. Fernandez founded the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology in part to address the growing need for culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children. She is an attending clinician and volunteer clinical faculty member in the UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence and collaborates with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health on program development and training. Connect with Dr. Vindia Fernandez: PediatricNeuropsych.com ChildNEXUS Provider Profile - Vindia G. Fernandez, Ph.D. Links and Resources: ChildNEXUS Home Page Dyslexia Blog Article ChildNEXUS Live Back to School Town Hall

The timing of this podcast with Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak could not have been better. Little did I know a media story would appear two days before this podcast release, about the four year follow up study he and his team completed on choline for children with Fetal Alcohol. And boy did our group explode with posts and parents wanting to purchase or order.See that's the thing with headlines, and announcements of new therapy and treatments – they are meant to grab your attention and emotion. My job is to save you some time, money, and further heartache by going directly to the source and getting the relevant information without the emotion. Choline does have benefits, but you need to know what those are and what target population it works best for.So, who is Dr. Wozniak?He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Kent State University in 1997, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at the University of Minnesota in 1999. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology. He also runs the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota and trains graduate students and clinical psychology interns in the practice of clinical neuropsychology.Dr. Wozniak's primary research interest is in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). He co-directs the University's FASD Program. Dr. Wozniak's research group is part of the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD). I don't know about you, but I much prefer to get my information directly from the source. Which is exactly what you will hear in this podcast:What choline is, why it's important, and where it's found naturally;The ins and outs of a scientific study;Results of the first 9-month choline study, the four year follow up and plans for future studies;Advice to women who are pregnant and have had alcohol; Answers to questions from our FASD Caregiver Success Facebook Group and myth-busting.This is foundational.  It is an effective intervention in early life but it is not a treatment we expect to see a dramatic result the week you start administering it.As a bonus, Dr. Wozniak gives his thoughts and advice on FASD and MRIs, QEEGs, and Neuro or Biofeedback Therapy. This is an important podcast to listen to.  I am not trying to take away any hope. I get it. As caregivers, we want the best for our children and are willing to try anything. But we need to temper hope and expectations with good science and evidence-based research. Let me know what you think of this one!Show Notes:Dr. Jeffery Wozniak Research, Contact and BioMinnesota CBS Local Article: “U announces breakthrough study on treating fetal alcohol spectrum disorders”Four-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of choline for neurodevelopment in fetal alcohol spectrum disorderCholine supplementation in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) has high feasibility and tolerabilitySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FASDSUCCESS)

Dr. Judy Ho, Ph. D., ABPP, ABPdN, is a triple-board certified clinical and forensic neuropsychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University. She is a board diplomate of American Board of Professional Psychology, the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology, and the National Board of Forensic Evaluators. Her clinical experiences include working in inpatient psychiatric settings; outpatient hospitals and clinics; in forensic settings as a testing psychologist and expert witness in criminal and civil proceedings, and in public schools and special education classrooms. Dr. Ho maintains a private practice where she conducts neuropsychological and forensic assessments. She currently serves as Consulting Neuropsychologist at Bridges To Recovery, a primary psychiatric residential treatment center for adults, and as Consulting Neuropsychologist to Milestones Ranch Malibu, a residential substance abuse treatment center. In past years, she conducted regular trainings for mental health providers for Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (LADMH), served as a neuropsychological trainer and consultant for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Legacy Project and as a cognitive-behavioral therapy consultant on the Community Partners in Care Project and the REACH NOLA Project.Dr. Ho regularly appears on various television programs as an expert psychologist. Notable shows include several primetime programs on networks including CBS (where she is currently a guest co-host on season 12 of The Doctors, and former co-host of Face the Truth, recurring expert on Inside Edition and Evening News), CNN (Piers Morgan, CNN Tonight, CNN Newsroom), HLN (Dr. Drew, Nancy Grace, Michaela), Fox (Daily Helpline, Fox 11 News), NBC (Access Hollywood, Access Live, Nightly News), Discovery Channel (Pretty Bad Girls, Wicked Attraction, Death by Gossip), Lifetime (Killer Kids), ESPN (Outside the Lines), A & E (Miss Murder), Oxygen (Snapped: Killer Couples), ABC (Eyewitness News), Pivot TV (TakePart Live), Reelz (Celebrity Arrests), and WE TV (Braxton Family values), KTLA (Crime Watch Daily), and ITV (Good Morning Britain). She is also a recurring guest on various podcasts and radio shows, and writes for multiple online periodicals including Psychology Today, Poosh, and Well + Good. Dr. Ho pursues her media consultant work with the goal of providing information to the general public about psychological issues in daily life and quality mental health care, and to reduce stigma towards mentally ill individuals and to encourage people who need help to seek effective treatment. Dr. Ho received her bachelors of arts degree in Psychology and bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from UC Berkeley, and her masters of sciences and Ph. D. from the San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and is a two-time recipient of National Institute of Mental Health’s National Research Services Award. Learn more about Dr. Judy Ho, PHD: HERE.----Thank you for listening! Will you contribute to the show? Every penny helps as we continue to create the content that you love. If you find value in what you’ve heard, feel free to support the podcast and contribute whatever is comfortable for you HERE. Thank you! Share your thoughts and follow Klay on your favorite social media: @PlanAwithKlay and use the hashtag #PlanA101. Want more Plan A? Subscribe to Klay's website: KlaySWilliams.com Have a story to share and would like to be considered as a future guest on Plan A Konversations? Email our team: Assistant@PlanAwithKlay.com.

Today's special guest, neuroscientist and inventor Amy Serin, is on a mission to help people master their minds and eliminate stress and PTSD. In her book The Stress Switch – The Truth About Stress and How to Short- Circuit it she shares cutting-edge brain science. Dr. Serin believes that our brains aren't broke and asks: “What if excess stress was not a chronic, permanent condition to be “coped with” – but instead is a specific type of neurological programming, that could be CURED?  What if what you've been taught about how to handle stress was wrong and neuroscience could offer you real solutions?” Dr. Serin's approach to switching off the stress switch is both scientific and holistic. She holds a PhD  in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Pediatric Neuropsychology from The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. She is a member of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, the Arizona Psychological Association, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and Arizona Children's Services Network. Dr. Serin is the founder of Serin Center neuropsychology clinics, and the co-creator of TouchPoints wearable devices - Forbes Top Tech of CES 2019 Award, and CBS Tech Innovation Award Winner

Amy Serin is a world renowned neuropsychologist who is on a mission to teach you how to shut off the stress switch, which is the name of her new book: The Stress Switch, The Truth About Stress and How to Short-Circuit it. She has spoken at over 100 conferences, has been featured in the Huffington Post, Bustle.com, and has been honored with many entrepreneurial awards. As a neuropsychologist and stress expert, she understands the complexity of brain-based issues and utilizes cutting-edge, integrative approaches to help people reach their own individual goals. Serin’s approach to switching off the stress switch is both scientific and holistic, and stems from a broad educational background. She graduated from Arizona State University, where she was Valedictorian and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Pediatric Neuropsychology from The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Serin completed her training at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and several private practices before opening a practice to serve Phoenix and the West Valley. She is President Elect of The Arizona Neuropsychological Association and a member of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, the Arizona Psychological Association, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and Arizona Children’s Services Network. Dr. Serin is the founder of Serin Center neuropsychology clinics offering psychological and neurological assessments for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions. Dr. Serin,invented Touchpoints, a non invasive lifestyle wearable that is a U.S. patent pending neuroscientific technology to relieve stress by over 70% in as few as 30 seconds.

Dr. Dana Chidekel started her career as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. She subsequently completed training in neuropsychology. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology and the American College of Professional Neuropsychology. She is certified by the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology and by the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology, for which she also serves as an examiner.

Dr Roy Sugarman is Director: Neuroscience for LifeIQ International and SeventeenHundred, part of the Mobecom Group, developing mobile platforms that engage and retain users in healthy behaviors, drawing on motivational science and his unique Neuroscience Model derived from this discipline. 
He is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society's Colleges of Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology, member of the Royal Charter of Psychologists in the UK, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Neuropsychology and Faculty of Pediatric Neuropsychology, and a member of the American Psychological Association. In the USA he is on the advisory boards of several USA-based entities: as Neuroscience lead with Social Health Innovations (Sydney and Delaware), Mind Experts International (Fla), as well as Director of Applied Neuroscience in the Performance Innovation Team of EXOS (Az). In this last capacity he served as a mindset coach with the USA National Men's Soccer Team, as well as working with various Olympic and Club level athletes in multiple sporting settings including USF athletes and US Military Special Forces personnel. He is an advisor to FC11 in Australia and EyesRight in Atlanta USA. He is a foundation member of BoxSpring Entertainment in the UK. He is the author of two acclaimed books, “Saving your life one day at a time”, and "Client-centred coaching: A trainer and coach's guide to motivating clients" (3rd ed), with PTAGlobal in the USA, now their standard textbook for training their clients in engagement skills. He is a contributor to various other works, including The Hecht Effect by Steve Hecht, and Every Day is Game Day, by Mark Verstegen, both noted luminaries in the peak performance world in which Dr Sugarman works internationally. He has had input into major corporations' corporate health including programs at IBM, Intel, Sheraton, Walgreens, Cisco, Sony, SAP, Wesfarmers, Google, Johnson and Johnson, United Health Group, Union Pacific Railroads, KFC, Qantas, Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association and others, historically including Aviva and Singapore Armed Forces, Sun Life in Manila and Orix in Japan, as well as FWD, Cigna, Ogilvy, Mazlo, Fitness First, Primal Fitness, Department of Education and the Environment, and other corporates and organizations worldwide. Dr Sugarman's clinical work continues in traumatic brain injury, mood and anxiety disorders in children and adults, and he serves as a Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry at UNSW, assisting with the assessment of candidates for medicine. With numerous publications, Dr Sugarman has developed an integrated approach to achieving peak performance in both body and brain, contributing to the current state of the art in both rehabilitation and peak performance circles: showcased in his books and in the well received TV series, Body and Brain Overall on OneHD and Channel 10. His online program "The neuroscience of Peak Performance", produced by EXOS Presents in the USA, has received critical acclaim. He has contributed to other EXOS Works presentations promoting best practice in professional coaching circles. Dr Sugarman works with individuals from his practice in Rose Bay, Australia with both clinical clients as well as high level executives and sporting bodies, building resilience through his integrated approach to body-brain optimisation, following the principles of ACT and Process-Based CBT. He is currently the Director of Applied Neuroscience for Mobecom, a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, supporting their 1700 app, the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology app, and LifeIQ, all of which advance the science of engagement and retention of users in healthy behaviors. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/transformation-unplugged/support

Dr. Michael Wolff is a co-owner of Brains, an organization that is about maximizing the potential of families through understanding the complex relationship between the brain, the body, and real life. He is a Neuropsychologist and Diplomate, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology.  Since the advent of the iPhone in 2007, middle school students are the first generation that has never known a world without the device.  How does the smartphone affect the development of an adolescent brain and how can we prevent students from becoming addicted to screens?  

In this episode with Dr. Amy Serin, Co-Founder of Touchpoints, we explore why stress is not what you think it is, why it's the root cause of many of our problems, and how to get good at managing it. Check out Dr. Serin's groundbreaking work. https://thetouchpointsolution.com/ https://serincenter.com/ ------------- Dr. Serin is a neuropsychologist and founder of The Serin Center. Her research and clinical practice led her to invent Touchpoints, a neurotechnology designed to reduce stress. She conducts neuropsychological evaluations for kids and adults struggling with ADHD, learning disabilities, IQ, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders and giftedness. Dr. Serin takes a strength-based, results-oriented approach to her psychotherapy. Her approach is based in both scientific and holistic approaches, and stems from a broad educational background. She graduated from Arizona State University, where she holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Pediatric Neuropsychology from The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Serin completed her training at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and several private practices before opening a practice to serve the broader Phoenix area. She’s a visionary and a leader in everything she does and is now the President Elect of The Arizona Neuropsychological Association.