Thursday (workshops) I Friday I Saturday I Posters

THURSDAY 13 November 2008 (Workshops)

9.00 – 12.45 Greg LEE. (Medical College of Georgia)

Neuropsychological aspects of epilepsy & epilepsy surgery

Because epilepsy is a common disorder in both children and adults, most neuropsychologists will be expected to evaluate patients with epilepsy at some point in their career. Moreover, since neuropsychologists routinely evaluate patients with brain tumours, strokes, arteriovenous malformations, traumatic brain injuries, and brain infections most neuropsychologists will encounter patients with comorbid seizures. This workshop will emphasize the role of the neuropsychologist and cover classification, epidemiology and aetiology of seizure disorders as well as diagnostic work-up for epilepsy surgery, medical and surgical treatments, outcomes, and neurobehavioral consequences of epilepsy. Diagnostic procedures in epilepsy that neuropsychologists frequently conduct will be discussed. These include the preoperative neuropsychological assessment, intracarotid amobarbital (Wada) procedure, pre-AVM embolization Wada testing using superselective catheters, intra- and extra-operative electrical stimulation language mapping of cortex, intraoperative memory testing with hippocampal cooling, and fMRI. Descriptions of these procedures, and the neuropsychologist’s role in each, will be given as well as considerations regarding their role in prediction of risk for cognitive decline after epilepsy surgery. Consideration will also be given to some of the more psychologically-oriented epilepsy topics including the issues of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, comorbid mood and behaviour disorders in epilepsy, and health-related quality of life assessment.

1.15 – 5.00 Tim HANNAN (University of Western Sydney)

Developmental dyslexia

This workshop will present a comprehensive overview of current approaches to the nature, assessment and treatment of developmental reading disorders. Theoretical and empirical issues in the definition and diagnosis of dyslexia will be reviewed, with consideration of the differential diagnosis of developmental language disorders. Factors involved in the normal development of children’s reading will be examined, with a focus of the role of phonological processes in the acquisition of reading skills. The workshop will provide a review of current knowledge on the nature of developmental dyslexia, its neurobiology, genetics, and epidemiology. The role of neuropsychological assessment in diagnosis and classification will be explored, with discussion and evaluation of the benefits and disadvantages associated with the use of popular tests of reading, language and intelligence. Approaches to the design and implementation of interventions will be reviewed, and the efficacy of contemporary methods compared and evaluated. This workshop is designed to assist participants to understand the major theoretical issues in the definition and diagnosis of reading disorders, be familiar with current views on the cognitive and neurobiological aspects of dyslexia, select tests most useful in assessing children’s reading abilities, and select, implement and evaluate interventions for children with learning disabilities.

1.15 – 5.00 David MANCHESTER (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers):

Motivational interviewing in cognitive rehabilitation

Many clients with acquired brain injury may be helped to engage in rehabilitation using motivational interviewing techniques (MI). MI is a client-centred approach that facilitates behaviour change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. This coaching style is especially helpful for clients who may be resistant to traditional rehabilitation methods. Research has shown MI to be helpful across a wide spectrum of populations and health issues. Workshop participants will: Gain an understanding of the principles behind effective behaviour change efforts, along with an introduction to the philosophy of MI; learn how to assess a client’s motivation to change; hear how therapists can learn to ‘roll with resistance’ and enhance the therapeutic relationship; gain an awareness of client speech that actually predicts behaviour change and focus on adapting the MI approaches for use with persons with brain injury. The workshop will include demonstrations, videotape examples, and participant practice. It will also utilise training techniques developed by the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.