title: Supporting pediatric cancer survivors with neurocognitive late effects: a model of care.
abstract: Educational difficulties are common for childhood survivors of central nervous system (CNS) cancers. Children who have been treated for brain tumors and those who have received treatments involving the CNS are at increased risk of developing neurocognitive late effects including difficulties with attention, executive functioning, speed of processing, and academic functioning. These children are also at risk for difficulties with social functioning and social isolation. This hospital's School Liaison Program (SLP) provides ongoing psychoeducation, advocacy, and consultation services for parents, schools, and medical staff to address the educational needs associated with the late effects of treatment for pediatric CNS-involved patients. This article provides an overview of the SLP model of care and discusses parent-perceived quality and program effectiveness. In general, parents attributed SLP involvement to improved academic performance, home-school communication, and school-level understanding of unique student cognitive profiles and learning needs.
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA lisa_northman@dfci.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Northman
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Marybeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tarquini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive late effects; educational support; neurocognitive effects; pediatric brain tumor; pediatric cancer; special education