Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the most current research in the symptomatology, developmental course, etiology, and treatment options for childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders include a broad spectrum of developmental disorders whose origins are thought to have a neurobiological, genetic, cognitive, psychosocial and/or environmental component. In addition to the diagnostic entities traditionally viewed as neurodevelopmental in origin, this course will focus in depth on specific learning disorders, their new reorganization as outlined in the DSM-V and interventional strategies. Recent changes within the field will be explored, including a new conceptual framework for autism, nomenclature and criteria change for intellectual disabilities as well as the addition of new disorders, such as social communication disorder. Students will be expected to integrate theory with practice, using differential diagnostic strategies to evaluate clinical cases and assessment data