ALMA Neurocognitive Specialty Group: A Unique, Meaningful, and Individualized Experience

There are roughly 87 billion neurons in your brain but you cannot recall why you walked into a room or where you placed your reading glasses moments ago - Why does this happen? What does it mean?

Have you noticed forgetfulness or confusion in yourself or a loved one? Or maybe your parents’ speech pattern has changed drastically. Is your child or teen struggling in school? Do you have a history of strained relationships and do not understand why? These are valid questions and concerns, but where do you go for answers when your concerns involve changes in balance, brain, and behavior? ALMA Neuro provides concierge care through personalized and patient-centered psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Amber Deckard, owner, and founder of ALMA Neurocognitive Specialty Group has 10+ years of experience in the eld of neuropsychology beginning with clinical rotations during her doctoral program. The lifelong Hobe Sound resident and former US Marine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She continued her education at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) where she earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Her interest in the eld stemmed from her longstanding intrinsic traits of altruism, kindness, and sensibility.

“While I was in the Marines, I saw families with relationship issues and related trauma,” explained Dr. Deckard. Her life experience along with her promise to her grandfather, also a Marine, that she would be a doctor, ultimately began her career path. There are many facets of

By Gina Zuk

clinical psychology, but Dr. Deckard was drawn to neuropsychology because she was passionate about understanding the complexities of the human brain and behavior, and excelled in mathematics, which plays a large role in the diagnostic aspect of her profession. Dr. Deckard’s experience consists of numerous neuropsychology practicum, internship, and post-doctoral positions which include Veteran’s Affairs (VA) hospitals, polytrauma rehabilitation, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), child and adult, and forensic settings with direct patient contact and care. Her understanding of how the brain functions, what triggers a change in cognitive functioning, and how to assess and diagnose conditions. Along with her extensive evidence-based training, she harbors an exceptional syndrome-based understanding of neuropsychological disorders.

A-L-M-A: Attention, Learning, Memory, Aging

ALMA Neurocognitive Specialty Group is just that…a specialty that looks at relationships between brain-and-behavior using research, statistics, and age/education norms. Included in the practice are Dr. Deckard’s husband, Alex Deckard, who is currently the Chief Operating Of cer, and their daughter, Aryiah, who is the groups executive assistant. Alex, is also a Marine Corps Veteran and he currently holds a Master of Science degree in psychology; he is furthering his education at NSU to obtain a doctorate in school psychology. In the interim, he is serving as the group’s psychometrician. He specializes in testing children and adolescents who come to ALMA for a variety of developmental disorders, attentional disorders (e.g. ADHD), and intelligence quotient (IQ) measures. Alex states, “Everything we do at ALMA is aligned with the Florida Department of Education and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.” For parents or caregivers of children and teens who are concerned about a change in behavior, academic decline, or just want to receive a baseline of brain functioning, ALMA is the perfect place to start. Dr. Deckard sees patients of all ages for a variety of reasons. “It can be a mix of things, Dr. Deckard continues, “behavioral issues, dif culty with learning, thinking skills, autism, and accommodations for college-aged patients.” Dr. Deckard begins with a brief complimentary consultation that servers as a ‘needs assessment’ that is bene cial to both the patient and Dr. Deckard as it provides insight into which type of assessment is needed, clari es expectations, and identi es realistic goals. Patients are welcome to schedule an appointment with ALMA Neurocognitive Specialty Group on their own accord, but the group also receives referrals from cardiologists, primary care physicians, neurologists, and rheumatologists because there are various medical and emotional disorders that impact the brain and its functioning. In fact, Dr. Deckard recommends that we normalize neurocognitive baselines.

What this means is that ‘we should think of baseline brain assessments as routine self-care, similar to mammograms and prostate checks’. It is especially important for middle-age adults