Executive Function Consultation, Education and Skills (EXCEL) Clinic
What is the EXCEL Clinic?
The EXCEL Clinic (Executive Function Consultation, Education and Skills Clinic) within CHOP’s Cancer Center provides services for children and adolescents who are at risk for executive function (EF) weakness following tumor or cancer diagnosis or treatment. Executive function is a set of skills that guides how people manage daily life. These skills include things like attention, planning, staying organized and time management. Lack of executive function skills can make routine tasks feel overwhelming.
Who we serve at the EXCEL Clinic
Children at risk for EF challenges include those who have been diagnosed with, or treated for, brain tumors, leukemia/lymphoma, neurofibromatosis type 1 and other cancer conditions. We understand how stressful this can be for everyone in the family, and we are here to help.
Why EF challenges happen after cancer and its treatment
Medical conditions or treatment can impact how the brain develops executive function skills. For example:
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can affect brain development, leading to challenges with attention and broader executive functions.
- Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can each affect the brain structure or development, slowing the development of executive function skills.
Services offered at the EXCEL Clinic
CHOP’s EXCEL Clinic is here to help you when your child’s struggles with executive function become a source of regular frustration. Our executive function services are based on solution-focused, face-to-face consultations that will:
- Help families pinpoint the exact challenges they face
- Develop targeted strategies tailored to their child’s needs
- Create clear goals, tackle barriers and connect you with practical tools
What to expect
You and your child or adolescent will meet with Iris Paltin, PhD, ABPP-CN, a pediatric neuropsychologist, to problem-solve challenges that your family has identified. In this one session consultation you will work together to:
- Recognize current barriers to success
- Provide tips and tricks to implement different approaches
- Identify people in each area of your child’s life who can support the development of new habits
You will leave with concrete strategies and resources.
Why choose CHOP’s EXCEL Clinic
CHOP’s unparalleled expertise in pediatric cancer has given us deep knowledge of the effects of this disease and its treatment. Our integrated, multidisciplinary team includes experts in neuropsychology and a unique executive function clinic for practical, effective strategies to improve your quality of life.
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