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• The Progression of Memory Loss Secondary To TBI-Induced White Matter Attenuation: A Review of The Literature And Case Exemplar

  • When
    18 Nov 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

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  Presenter: Ted Wasserman, Ph.D

  
  

  1 CE Available

  You will receive a link to the article after your successful registration of this event. If you have trouble accessing the article, please email us at aapdnoffice@gmail.com.

  Abstract:

  It is axiomatic that the major cognitive symptomology of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) of any severity appears shortly after the insult and begins to resolve over the course of the first 12 months post incident. There is growing evidence that suggests that, for a subset of individuals with TBI, the course post-injury does not follow what has been traditionally anticipated. Increasingly, longitudinal studies of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral outcomes from TBI that demonstrate a highly variable course. In some cases damage can appear after some time and also continue for a much longer time after the damage associated with TBI lesions would be assumed to have reached a steady state. Chronic neuroinflammatory processes have been identified as one potential source of the continuing decline. We review the literature on chronic inflammatory processes and, in addition, report on the case of a 12-year-old male who sustained a left-temporal lobe displaced skull fracture, with an underlying hemorrhage, when he was hit in the left temporal region of the head by a thrown baseball. Although the youth reported difficulty with memory immediately post-injury, the initial neuropsychological evaluation conducted 6 weeks post-injury yielded data demonstrating that the memory functioning was unaffected by the injury. Testing 3 years later indicated significant memory loss. The course of decline in memory functioning in this instance challenges commonly held conceptualizations concerning the immediacy of memory loss post-TBI and our ability to accurately measure the process as it unfolds.

  Objectives:

  
  

  1) Participants will acquire knowledge related to neuroinflammation and its potential to damage white matter and related cognitive functioning.

  
  

  2) Participants will develop an understanding of the variability of brain recovery following traumatic brain injury.

  
  

  3) Participants will be able to cite relevant literature related to traumatic brain injury and neuroinflammation.

  
  

  Speaker Bio:

  Dr. Ted Wasserman is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and board certified in pediatric neuropsychology by the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Dr. Wasserman, a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Florida, completed his doctorate at Hofstra University in 1974. He completed an internship in pediatric neuropsychology at North Shore University Medical Center. Postdoctoral training was completed in Cognitive Behavior Therapy at the Institute for Advanced Study of Rational Psychotherapy under the supervision of Albert Ellis Ph.D. He is a founding member and past president of American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology.

  Dr. Wasserman maintains a private practice in pediatric neuropsychology and clinical psychology. His patients include children with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Developmental, Language and Conduct Disorders.

  Dr. Wasserman has co-authored six books on neuroscience, neural network theory and mental health. He has contributed chapters to various books on clinical issues related to family law, autism, attention deficit disorder and learning disorders. Topics of published papers include children’s development, attention, motivation, language and executive function, behavior management and cognitive behavior therapy. He has given invited lectures and provided consultation regarding pediatric neuropsychology throughout the United States and internationally. He regularly consults with schools on curricular development  and has founded two Pre-K to 8 schools that serve autistic children.

  Dr. Wasserman co-developed Neurocognitive Learning Therapy, a treatment approach that integrates neural network theory with cognitive behavior therapy.

  
  

  
  

  The American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology (AAPdN) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AAPdN maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  

  
  

  AAPdN is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0059. AAPdN maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

  
  

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