ABPN NDD study guide
ABPN NDD · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABPN Neurology and Developmental Disorders (NDD) subspecialty certification is a credential offered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. It is designed for physicians who have completed qualifying neurology training and wish to demonstrate subspecialty expertise in the neurologic care of individuals with developmental disorders across the lifespan. The examination is computer-based and administered through Pearson testing centers, and candidates apply through the ABPN physician portal. Content spans general neurology and neuroscience foundations, normal and abnormal nervous system development, diagnostic and clinical assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders, and treatment, management, and systems of care. The ABPN NDD study guide has 4 sections and about 950 words.
01General Neurology and Neuroscience Foundations
Neurodevelopmental practice rests on a working model of how the nervous system is built and how it fails. Know the sequence of dorsal induction, ventral patterning, neural tube closure (days 22-28), neuronal proliferation, migration, and myelination, and the timing of each so you can date an insult.
279 words, about 1 min02Normal and Abnormal Development of the Nervous System
Master the milestones: social smile, head control, sitting, walking, and language emergence, plus the red flags that signal delay or regression. Understand gross and fine motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional streams and how they diverge.
242 words, about 1 min03Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Diagnosis and Clinical Assessment
Diagnosis is clinical and dimensional. Know DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder (social communication deficits plus restricted/repetitive behaviors, early onset, functional impairment), ADHD (inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity across settings), intellectual disability (deficits in intellectual and adaptive function), specific learning disorder, and communication and motor disorders.
228 words, about 1 min04Treatment, Management, and Systems of Care
Management is multimodal: behavioral, educational, pharmacologic, and family-centered. Know evidence-based behavioral interventions (ABA for autism, parent training, social skills), school supports (IEP, 504, related services), and early intervention.
201 words, about 1 min