Clinical Psychology
The psychology section of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry consists of one faculty member, two psychology postdoctoral associates, four child psychology interns, and graduate students from the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology. Their functions in the Division include psychological testing, psychological treatment with special emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family therapy. As well, research of a psychological nature in psychiatric disorders is conducted within this group.
The Psychological Testing Clinic operates two days per week. Most of our referrals come from the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, though many referrals also come largely from Pediatric Endocrinology, and a few referrals come from outside sources. We evaluate child and adolescents for problems including school-related problems ranging from intellectual deficits to learning problems to attention problems. We also evaluate for disruptive behaviors disorders and emotional problems as well as thought problems and psychotic disorders.
We have a large psychological treatment clinic. Patients come largely from Child Psychiatry and Pediatric Endocrinology with a wide range of problems, although we see adult patients from the Department of Psychiatry who have problems with Anxiety Disorders and Depression. The approaches that we have special expertise include behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy and family therapy.
Research is also is conducted in the psychology section of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. We are interested in studying primarily child psychiatric disorders with special interest in family variables involved in the adherence of youngsters with Diabetes. We also conduct research involving Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Enuresis as well as other child psychiatric conditions.
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) provides support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism and related disabilities .
What is C.A.R.D?
Florida is home to many individuals with autism and related disabilities. In response to the needs of these people and their families, six regional, nonresidential resource centers have been established at the University of Florida/Gainesville, the University of Florida Health Science Center/Jacksonville, the University of South Florida, the University of Miami, the University of Central Florida and Florida State University. The University of Florida/Gainesville Center for Autism and Related Disabilities provides services within the geographical region that includes Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union Counties.
The Center serves both children and adults of all levels of intellectual functioning who have autism, pervasive developmental disorders, autistic-like disabilities, dual sensory impairments, or sensory impairments with other disabling conditions. Our primary focus is to provide individualized, direct assistance to these individuals and their families. Services include technical assistance and consultation, professional training programs and public education activities. CARD services are designed to build on the capacities of state and local resources, not to duplicate or replace them. The Center is funded by the Florida Legislature through the Florida Department of Education and all services are provided free of charge.
The Center’s offices are located at the University of Florida/Gainesville in the College of Medicine. A constituency board comprised of family members representing persons with autism and related disabilities meets quarterly with the Center staff to provide guidance on policies, priorities and activities.
CARD is founded on the strong belief that:
- All people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have the right to live as full participants in society.
- All people have the right to be treated with dignity and understanding.
- People with disabilities are members of families. All families have strengths and capacities and have the right to be treated with sensitivity and respect, and as integral members of a person’s system of support.
- People with autism and related disabilities have the right to be regarded as individuals who need services and supports that are based on their unique characteristics.
Communicative Disorders
The Department of Communicative Disorders sees patients at Shands at the University of Florida, Shands at Alachua General Hospital, and Shands at Starke. Our clinic serves the needs of the individual from initial evaluation through the rehabilitation process.
Our clinical staff are all: Board Certified and Florida Licensed Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists. Our staff is committed to maintaining the highest standard of excellence in all areas of service to the patient. The Speech and Hearing Center stands alone in the area as the premier center for delivering speech, language, swallowing and hearing services to individuals of all ages.
Audiologic Diagnostic Services
Complete audiologic evaluations
- Hearing testing: services for infants to geriatrics
- Tympanometry: assess middle ear function
Auditory evoked potentials
- Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR): electrophysiological testing to assess infants and children who are unable to respond with conventional testing methods
- Otoacoustic Emission Testing (OAE): assess inner function to provide information as to whether a person has normal hearing; used in newborn nursery as a screening tool; also used on children and adults
- Cerumen management: removing cerumen from ear canal
- Compensation evaluations: perform testing for workers compensation cases
- Hearing conservation programs: obtain baseline audio on workers who are exposed to high level noise and test annually to monitor hearing sensitivity
Audiologic Rehabilitation Services
- Hearing aid services
- Evaluations
- Fitting and Sales
- Follow-up
- Hearing aid adjustment program
Audiologic rehabilitation:
- Provide classes to hearing aid patients to assist with care and maintenance of hearing instruments as well as communication strategies
- Cochlear implant program
- Assistive listening devices
Speech-Language Diagnostics and Rehabilitative Services
1. Speech
- Articulation
- Motor speech disorders
- Tracheostomy
- Accent reduction
- Stuttering
2. Language
- Stroke
- Head Injury
- Developmental delays
- Childhood disorders
- Language/Learning disabilities
3. Laryngectomy
Voice Prostheses - After a total laryngectomy, many persons are able to regain functional speech using a voice prosthesis inserted in a surgically-created tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP). We provide preoperative assessment for candidacy for TEP, as well as comprehensive follow-up. This may include prosthesis selection, fitting, insertion, and replacement, in addition to speech therapy services and training in independent prosthesis management.
Electrolarynx - Some laryngectomized individuals require the use of an electrolarynx to regain functional oral communication. The Speech and Hearing Center offers assistance with selection of the appropriate electrolarynx, as well as therapy services to facilitate proficiency in alaryngeal speech.
Voice
- Medical problems - Therapy is offered for persons with vocal difficulties including hoarseness, vocal fold nodules, vocal fold polyps, and neurogenic voice disorders including spasmodic dysphonia. Following evaluation, individual therapy sessions are designed to assist patients with voice improvement.
- Professional voice - Professional voice users (teachers, salespeople, ministers, singers, etc.) often experience vocal difficulty resulting in fatigue, chronic hoarseness, and loss of voice. Therapy is offered for assistance with these areas. Instruction for prevention of vocal difficulties is also available.
Swallowing / Dysphagia and Food Aversion
- Clinical, endoscopic, and fluorographic assessment
- Biofeedback techniques and traditional swallowing therapy
