Psychology
Psychology and neuropsychology play an important role in rehabilitation services at The Hospital at The Children’s Institute. Services include, but are not limited to:
- Behavioral assessment and intervention — A behavioral psychologist meets with patients and families to help them manage a disorder or illness more effectively, including functional feeding problems. Psychologists evaluate and treat children with adjustment or difficult behavioral conditions.
- Counseling — Psychologists are active members of the inpatient treatment team to help patients and caregivers adjust to disabilities and cope with stress.
- Developmental, neuropsychological and academic testing — A neurophysiologist evaluates the development and cognitive abilities of patients. Evaluations typically focus on language skills, attention span, reasoning skills, academic abilities and new learning abilities. Results help care teams and families plan therapies and locate community resources.
- Academic instruction — A Pennsylvania-certified elementary/special education teacher provides an assessment of patients and teaches school-aged inpatients in the Cognitive and Behavioral Learning Environment (CABLE) classroom at The Hospital. Some children can continue with regular schoolwork while recovering from an injury or illness. New learning programs are developed for children whose learning needs have changed because of an injury or illness. Instruction is one-on-one or in small groups.
The CABLE program teacher communicates with each child’s school district to ensure grade-appropriate learning as well as to prepare the district for any adaptations that need to be made for the child’s return to school. School district representatives and families are invited to participate in the education process.
