Pediatric Epilepsy Advanced Technologies Clinic (PEATC)
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Pediatric Neuropsychology and Epilepsy
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Pediatric Neuropsychology focuses on understanding relationships between brain health, cognitive functioning and behavior in children and adolescents.
Psychology Services at St. Louis Children's Hospital offers a team of professionals committed to providing high-quality psychological care for children.
The Pediatric Neuropsychology Service treats cognitive problems associated with medical conditions impacting the central nervous system including epilepsy, brain injury, neuro-oncology, stroke, and more.
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Risk factors in pediatric epilepsy |
Pediatric epilepsy has a wide range of neuropsychological risk factors, including:
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- Neurocognitive deficits (e.g., attention, executive functioning, memory)
- Academic underachievement
- Reduced health-related quality of life
- Poor adaptive functioning
- Social difficulties
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD, learning disorders, autism, and intellectual developmental disorder)
- Psychiatric conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression)
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Pediatric epilepsy patients with early-onset of seizures, longer duration of seizures, increased frequency of seizures, and certain epilepsy syndromes are at the highest risk for neuropsychological challenges.
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What is a neuropsychological assessment? |
A neuropsychological assessment evaluates a child's development and functioning across many areas:
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- General cognition
- Attention and Executive Functioning
- Learning and Memory (verbal and visual)
- Language
- Visual Spatial
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| - Fine Motor
- Academic performance
- Adaptive Functioning
- Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Functioning
- Quality of Life
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To create a complete neuropsychological picture, the assessment integrates information from multiple sources:
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Standardized testing using age-based norms
- Observations during testing
- Child interview and neurobehavioral exam
- Clinical interview with parents/caregivers
- Behavioral questionnaires
- Educational records, such as an IEP and 504 Plan
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Medical records, such as seizure history, neurological exam, EEG, brain MRI, PET
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Benefits of a neuropsychological assessment |
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The neuropsychological assessment provides many benefits including:
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- Documenting neurocognitive deficits and strengths
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Explaining patterns as they relate to brain regions and the child’s medical course and treatment
- Identifying risk factors and the impact on a child’s everyday functioning
- Making a differential diagnosis of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions
- Monitoring changes in cognition and functional behavior over the course of the epilepsy condition and medical treatment
- Developing recommendations and effective treatment plans across disciplines and settings
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Additional benefits when epilepsy surgery is being considered include:
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Prior to epilepsy surgery:
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Determining any lateralizing or localizing brain dysfunction
- Identifying comorbid psychiatric conditions that may impact a patient’s ability to cooperate with medical procedures
- Predicting risk for postoperative cognitive impairments
- Documenting baseline functioning to compare to post-surgical changes
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| Following epilepsy surgery:
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- Assessing for changes in functioning
- Delineating the impact of any post-surgical deficits on daily functioning
- Providing compensatory strategies and behavioral supports for deficits
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Meet the provider - Lisa Harker, PsyD
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Dr. Lisa Harker is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and an instructor in Clinical Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She has been working with pediatric epilepsy patients and their families at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for over 12 years.
Dr. Harker is a licensed psychologist and health service provider.
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Born and raised in the Midwest, Dr. Harker attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a B.A. with High Distinction, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Near Eastern Languages and Culture.
She received her MA in Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Psychology degree from the University of Indianapolis.
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| She returned to Michigan for her pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and then her postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan Health System.
She remains a loyal UM fan – Go Blue!
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| When not at work, Dr. Harker stays busy hanging out with her husband and three children. She loves to travel, take barre classes, read and volunteer in the community.
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The Pediatric Epilepsy Advanced Technologies Clinic (PEATC) is a specialty concierge clinic at the Washington University NAEC-accredited Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
PEATC offers the highest level of care for children and young adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy providing support and resources to improve quality of life and seizure management through reduction or elimination of seizures.
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Pediatric Epilepsy Advanced Technologies Clinic
https://pediatricneurology.wustl.edu/items/peatc/
314-454-6120
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Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
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Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
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Created by Janette Coble, MS, BSN, RN, CNRN
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