PRACTITIONER FULL MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION OF THE DIVISION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

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PAEDIATRIC QUALIFICATION – EXAMINATION PAPER 3 (2 hours duration)

DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND DISORDERS

FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2009 9:30am-11:30am

Answer SIX questions.

  1. What are the implications for cognitive development in children with a history of significant prematurity and/or periventricular leukomalacia?
  1. What role does sleep play in the learning and development of infants and children?
  1. Describe how you would assess memory function in a girl of reportedly normal ability presenting with school failure and teacher reported problems in ‘short term memory’. What factors would you consider in your history taking regarding birth and early development?
  1. With reference to the literature on plasticity and rehabilitation, discuss whether ‘earlier is better’ regarding the developmental timing of an acquired brain injury.
  1. Discuss with reference to the literature the concept of psychosocial vulnerability in children with epilepsy.
  1. Present a theoretical model that helps understand children’s memory difficulties. Illustrate how this model underpins neuropsychological assessments and guides consultation in relation to the provision of appropriate educational support.
  1. A child with poor attainment and some behavioural difficulties at school as been referred to you for a full neuropsychological assessment. You have just completed a WISC-IV, on which he obtained a Full Scale IQ of 60. How would you proceed? Discuss the range of factors that would inform your decision regarding the structure and content of additional assessment.
  1. Why is comorbidity between neurodevelopmental disorders so common and what are the implications for neuropsychological assessment?
  1. A parent is concerned that their 12-year old child seems to be “regressing.” Fortunately, this child had a WISC-IV about two years ago. How would you approach this case? Outline the evidence you would gather and discuss how you would use these data to address the parent's concerns.
  1. You are seeing a 5-year old child who sustained frontal lobe damage in a road traffic accident two years ago. The child started in Reception class a term ago and the teachers have not identified any concerns. Although the parents are relieved at this, they want to know “what the future holds” for their child and whether there is anything they should be doing now to optimise the chances that their child will, “turn out okay.” Use your knowledge of the long-term outcome literature to discuss how you would address their queries around prognosis and intervention.

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