Prospectus

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Child Neuropsychology: Theory and Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Course
2019-2020

Entry requirements

Open for MSc Psychology students. For students from other specialisations than the master’s specialisation Clinical Neuropsychology, prior knowledge from an advanced bachelor course in clinical neuropsychology is strongly recommended.

Description

This course provides the theoretical foundation for neuropsychological assessment and treatment of children and adolescents, through a consideration of views and theories related to neurodevelopmental conditions. This course aims to provide an understanding of the neurological and neuropsychological characteristics associated with various conditions. The impact on cognitive, emotional, behavioural, academic, social functioning and family will be discussed. Additionally, it addresses topics related to neuropsychological assessment, from a developmental perspective.

The course involves 7 lectures addressing the following topics:

  • General introduction into child neuropsychology

  • ADHD

  • Autism spectrum disorders

  • Epilepsy

  • Genetic and metabolic brain disorders

  • Preterm birth

  • Traumatic brain injury

In the book other topics are discussed as well, such as structural disorders of the brain (e.g. hydrocephalus).

Course objectives

On completion of this course students have obtained a detailed understanding of:

  • core issues in child neuropsychology

  • the neurological and neuropsychological characteristics associated with various neurodevelopmental conditions

  • the impact these conditions can have on cognitive, emotional, behavioural, academic, social and family functioning

Having sufficient knowledge and understanding of the abovementioned topics provides an important foundation for a career in child neuropsychology. In order to administer proper neuropsychological assessments and provide the necessary neuropsychological interventions, one needs to know what a certain condition entails and how that affects the development of a child. Only then one is able to determine what to assess and what to treat. This course aims to provide students with this fundamental knowledge.

Timetable

For the timetables of your lectures, work groups and exams, please select your study programme in: Psychology timetables

Lectures

Registration

Course

Students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions. Master’s course registration

Examination

Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date. Students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination. Registering for exams

Mode of instruction

The course consists of 7 mandatory 2-hour lectures. There will be no weblectures for this course.

Assessment method

The final grade is fully (100%) based on a written exam, consisting of both multiple-choice and open questions. The exam material concerns most chapters of the book ‘Developmental Neuropsychology’, as well as the lecture slides.

The Institute of Psychology follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of this fraud policy.

Reading list

  • Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam & Jacquie Wrennall. Developmental Neuropsychology: a clinical approach, second edition (2019) Routledge. ISBN: 978-1-84872-202-6.

Contact information

Janice Sandjojo, MSc j.sandjojo@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Monique Morcus, MSc m.e.j.morcus@fsw.leidenuniv.nl