Services and Programs

The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health offers a number of comprehensive, integrated and multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment services and programs. These include:

• Comprehensive Neurological Evaluations
• Neuropsychological Testing
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Positive Behavioral Support Services
• Psychoeducational Testing
• Neurodevelopmental Evaluations (with ADOS)
• Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Clinics for Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Clinics for ADHD
• Child Study Team Evaluations
• LEGO®-based Social Development Therapy
• The Learning Circle
• Creative Arts in Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Dense Array Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Brain Injury Rehab Consulting
• Clinical Research Center of New Jersey
• Computerized Testing for Attentional Disorders
• Yoga Therapy for Special Needs

Comprehensive Neurological Evaluations

Clinical neurological evaluations performed by our expert and board certified staff will assist you in determining if there is an underlying neurological or medical mechanism for you/your child’s symptoms; if there are any clinical neurological findings on examination; whether additional neurodiagnostic testing (such as MRIs, EEGs, cognitive testing, etc); to determine if there are medication or non-medication treatment options that may be useful; and to provide information and teaching about the neurological condition in question. These assessments are quite extensive and complete, and involve a review of our completed medical/neurological history form; review of other available records; complete systemic and neurological examination; discussion concerning our diagnostic impressions and additional recommendations; and a comprehensive written report of our review of records and clinical findings and impressions. The clinical neurological evaluation is an important and essential component of the assessment of individuals with neurological, neurobehavioral or neurodevelopmental symptoms or signs.

Neuropsychological Testing

Our neuropsychological services are under the supervision of a board certified and licensed neuropsychologist, providing an array of evaluation and therapeutic services. Neuropsychological testing is an assortment of standardized tests that can only be administered by properly trained and certified or supervised personnel, and must be interpreted by a licensed Neuropsychologist. Neuropsychological testing provides a window into how the brain functions, including providing quantitative information about cognitive (intellectual) abilities, memory and motor skills, as well as diagnostic input. Neuropsychological testing provides a “profile” of a person’s cognitive potential and deficits, which allows for a better understanding of the underlying neurological mechanism for an individual’s concerns, and can greatly assist in creating a pragmatic treatment plan; formulating an educational plan and curriculum; or for monitoring the benefit (or not) of other treatment interventions. Please click here for further a more detailed description of neuropsychology.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is an evidence-based approach to understanding what we feel and what we do. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps individuals understand and recognize how own thoughts can cause our feelings, emotions and behaviors, rather than as the result of external events, situations or other people. Once there is a better recognition of what we are thinking and feeling, the Cognitive-behavioral therapist will work can work with a person to develop strategies to feel and act better, even though the external situation might not change.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy does not tell people how they should feel, but teaches how to feel better, to be calm in undesirable situations, and how to think more rationally. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is performed in a “session” with a trained therapist. The Therapist will often ask questions to understand a client’s concerns and issues, and to help a person gain insight into how they think and feel. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has much empirical scientific support as a very effective psychotherapeutic tool, and can be effective in some cases after only a few sessions, and even in more complicated situations in 10-20 sessions. Sessions can be scheduled as the need dictates, but usually ranges from weekly to monthly. The residual benefits from Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be sustained, as individuals are taught how to “self-counsel” themselves in various situations, and the strategies that are learned in the therapy sessions can be generalized into all aspects of a person’s life.

Positive Behavioral Support Services

Many behaviors can be analyzed for their “learned function” (i.e. occurring for a reason or trigger, for example, attention) or can be more “biologically drive” (i.e. occurring automatically for no apparent reason.) The reasons for the occurrence of undesirable behaviors can be analyzed through an evaluation called “Functional Behavioral Analysis.” Once the various triggers and functions of an unwanted behavior is understood, an appropriate behavior intervention and management plan can be devised and implemented, using a “positive” approach to reinforcing and developing more appropriate and desirable behavior patterns.

The professionals at CNNH have extensive experience in the diagnosis, analysis and treatment of difficult behaviors. Our professionals can understand and differentiate between the biological/neurological mechanisms of unwanted behaviors, as well as the “learned” patterns of undesirable behaviors. CNNH has also forged a major partnership with the May Institute, allowing us to offer families positive behavior support services in the school and home settings. Difficult behaviors can lead to academic failure, social difficulties, sleep disruption, and family stress. Thus, if your child is having excessive tantrums, aggressive (hitting, kicking, biting, etc.) or self-injurious behaviors (head banging, self-hitting, etc.), dangerous impulsive behaviors (running into the street, jumping from heights, etc.), non-compliance with authority or other demands, or other difficult to control behaviors in the home or school settings, our professional team can help.

Psychoeducational Testing

Psychoeducational evaluations are a group of procedures, including tests, used to obtain information about a student’s learning, behavior, and social/emotional functioning. The procedures and evaluations vary according to the needs of each child; however, each evaluation may contain the following:
Standardized testing: An assessment of a child’s current functioning in comparison with other children in the same peer group. These tests can include cognitive ability, achievement, motor functioning, attention/concentration, and social/emotional functioning.
Rating Scales: Parents, teachers, and others close to the child rate the child on particular behaviors. This information is used to determine if certain behaviors or skills are present in the child.
Direct Observations: The process of observing the child in the natural setting in an effort to gather information on the child’s behavior and learning. This can include a school and/or home observation.
Interviews: Direct interviews with parents and teachers to provide information on history, relationships, strengths, weaknesses, goals, and concerns relative to the child. The goal of the evaluation is to provide an overall picture of the child’s behavior, learning, overall cognitive ability, strengths, and areas of difficulty. The results of the assessment will provide valuable information and recommendations for implementation in the school or home setting.

Neurodevelopmental Evaluations with ADOS

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a standardized test for the detection and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders, such as Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger Syndrome. This test can only be administered by a specially certified professional, and Dr. LeGoff, Director of Neuropsychology Services at CNNH, holds this special certification. In addition, Dr. LeGoff looks at a child’s entire development to not only provide a “test result,” but also to provide a better understanding of a child’s developmental strengths and talents. This evaluation is essential for those children where there is a suspicion of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or when there are early developmental or communication delays. In children with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or developmental difficulties, a Comprehensive Neurological Evaluation is also important to determine if there are any identifiable neurological reasons for the problems, particularly to look for treatable causes.

Computerized Testing for Attentional Disorders

The diagnosis and management of individuals with disorders of attention and vigilance (ADHD and others) is greatly enhanced by the use of objective and quantifiable testing. At CNNH, we utilize computerized advanced cognitive health assessments and continuous performance testing employing Mindstreams® and Quotient™ ADHD System 1. When indicated and necessary, formal Neuropsychological Testing provides tremendous insight and information into an individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses, as well as providing diagnostic and therapeutic guidance. Through the utilization of objective testing, in addition to the subjective and historical data that is obtained from families and schools, we are able to make more confident and accurate diagnoses, with greatly enhanced clinical and medication management.

Creative Arts in Therapy

The Creative Arts are an important part of life and humanity. Music, art, dance, movement, theater and more give us joy, contentment, and inner peace; provide a medium for creativity; help us to fashion our identity; afford us a means of expression and communication; and are used to recognize important milestones of our life. For many of us, music may make our day more productive or help us to learn; art and dance may provide a means to express our creative urges; or participation in the arts may endow us with self confidence and self esteem. Yet, as we have taken for granted our access to the Arts, individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and neurobehavioral disorders are often not afforded the same opportunity. There is often a misinformed preconceived notion that such individuals cannot appreciate or perform creative arts as can others. The truth is that people with neurological challenges often have remarkable creative skills, desires and talents.

Thus, we at The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health (CNNH) will be addressing this unmet void in the approach to individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, neurobehavioral challenges, communication impairments, social difficulties and anxiety or other mood problems. We presently offer Yoga Therapy for Special Needs, and will soon offer an array of creative arts. In conjunction with our sister organization, the Clinical Research Center of New Jersey, we hope to explore the scientific basis for the benefits of music, art and other creative arts for therapy and expression. How is it that nonverbal children can sing but not speak? Can music and art help to calm individuals who have difficulty in regulating their behavior? Can the arts help children to learn? Sleep better? Become more social? Hopefully, we can develop some answers to these questions.