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Neuropsychology Associated Programs Conditions & Treatments Meet Our Team Locations Resources for Families Resources for Healthcare Professionals Research Contact Information Request an Apppointment     Email This Page Print This Page           Neuropsychology The Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center provides clinical service, conducts research to investigate better ways of helping children, trains the next generation of neuropsychologists, and advocates in the community. The Neuropsychology team examines, diagnoses and treats children and teens with known or suspected dysfunction of the brain. Well over 1,000 children and teens are seen for evaluation and clinical service every year. We focus on: Cognitive functioning Learning Social interactions Behavioral functioning In addition to evaluating and treating patients and their families, we also consult to other professionals and clinicians throughout the region and country. We evaluate children with neurodevelopmental disorders and medical conditions impacting brain functioning, such as Learning disabilities Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Epilepsy Concussion/traumatic brain injury Neurofibromatosis Brain tumors Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Sickle Cell Disease Stroke Hydrocephalus In many cases, we work in collaboration with Children’s multidisciplinary teams to shape the care of children with medical and neurodevelopmental disorders impacting brain functioning. A number of programs exist within the division to provide services to children. Click here for a complete list of programs.-- Children’s Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology is one of the largest programs of its type in the country in terms of the number of faculty, researchers, trainees and support staff. Most of our faculty and postdoctoral fellows stay actively involved in interdisciplinary research programs to investigate neuropsychological issues that can better the lives of children and adolescents with disorders or diseases that affect the brain. Research The Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology is involved in a variety of research studies investigating the cognitive, behavioral and social factors associated with specific neurological conditions. We regularly enroll patients in our studies. If you would like to learn more, contact us about participating. Current research includes investigations into the following: Traumatic brain injury/concussion Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Neurofibromatosis Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) Brain tumors Leukemia Urea cycle disorders Epilepsy Research in Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome measurement of mild traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents This is a collaborative study with the University of Pittsburgh Sports Concussion Program and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Its main goal is to develop a psychometrically-sound test battery for children to detect and monitor the neurocognitive and behavioral outcome of mild traumatic brain injury. Gerard Gioia, PhD, Principal Investigator Funding: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Additional Funding Sources: USA Hockey Foundation Child Health Center Board Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in children with mild traumatic brain injury This study explores the functional neuro-anatomy and microscopic white matter changes in children with mild traumatic brain injury Lauren Krivitzky, PhD, Principal Investigator; Gerard Gioia, PhD, Co-Investigator Funding: Children’s Research Institute RAC Grant, Medstar Intramural Award Research in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Integrating brain imaging and genetic analysis of ADHD This is a collaborative study with Dr. Chandan Vaidya at Georgetown University to examine neuroimaging and genetic factors in children with ADHD, combined type. Laura Kenealy, PhD, Principal Investigator; Gerard Gioia, PhD, Co-Investigator Funding: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research in Neurofibromatosis Early identification of cognitive deficits in children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 This study will longitudinally follow children with NF1 from infancy through early childhood to identify neurocognitive deficits. Karin Walsh, PhD, Marla Shapiro, PhD, Co-Investigators Funding: Department of Defense (DOD) Research in Urea Cycle Disorders Rare Diseases Clinical Research Center--Urea Cycle Disorders This multi-center study will investigate the longitudinal neurocognitive effects of Urea Cycle Disorders and follow changes in cognition in affected children over time. Lauren Krivitzky, PhD, Co-Investigator Funding: NIH Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Neurobiologic origins and Innovative treatments of autism This is a multi-center collaborative study with Georgetown University and the Kennedy Krieger Institute to examine the neurocognitive underpinnings and neuroimaging data in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Lauren Kenworthy, PhD, Co-Investigator; Dr. Angela Bollich (Co-Investigator), Dr. Joette James (Co-Investigator) Funding: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research in Epilepsy Plasticity of language in epilepsy The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate that localization related epilepsy causes reorganization of language function in children during periods critical for language development. Madison Berl, PhD, Co-Investigator; Gerard Gioia, PhD; Co-Investigator Funding: NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Back to Top