Kara K. Lyons, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Neuropsychology
Director of South Florida NCC
Dr. Kara Lyons is a clinical neuropsychologist licensed in the state of Florida. She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from an APA approved program with additional predoctoral and postdoctoral training in both school psychology and neuropsychology. Dr. Lyons received intensive training in developmental, psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessment across the lifespan. She gained additional experience at Baylor University Medical Center and Lewisville Independent School District focusing on neuropsychological assessment, neurocognitive rehabilitation, and educational programming with children suffering from traumatic brain injury, anoxic insults, and various other medical conditions. She also completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Miami (UM) focusing on developmental delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as a two-year postdoctoral neuropsychological fellowship focusing on neuropsychological assessment and civil and federal forensic matters across the lifespan. Dr. Lyons served as a psychologist/consultant and adjunct professor at UM prior to co-founding Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children’s Pediatric Neuropsychology Specialty Clinics in Orlando and Melbourne. Though she eventually transitioned to full-time private practice work, she continues to serve as a consultant for various practices requiring neuropsychological services to investigate the trajectory and outcomes of various conditions, such as ASD and Alzheimer’s. Over the years, her clinical and research work has facilitated projects at Vanderbilt University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Nova Southeastern University, and Florida International University. Currently, she continues to maintain appointments in pharmaceutical research and clinical trials focusing on ASD and Alzheimer’s as well as research examining vision testing in patients with ASD at NSU.
In addition to specialized training in neuropsychology, Dr. Lyons has particular expertise in the assessment of infants and children with developmental delays and general medical conditions. She performed infant and early childhood screenings for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital as well as UM’s Success by Six Program, More Than Words Program, and Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic, and she worked at as the lead psychologist coordinating research exploring the developmental trajectories of infants and children at-risk for ASD. She has reviewed grants for Autism Speaks, prepared publications, taught college courses, and supervised others in assessment procedures, and she is one of the few psychologists certified as a research-reliable administrator* of the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-Years-Olds (STAT), the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI), and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in Florida. Dr. Lyons is also an invited trainer facilitating the use of these measures in international research and clinical trials. Her other clinical trial research endeavors and certifications focus on the evaluation, and management, of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s in the geriatric population.
Throughout her education and beyond, Dr. Lyons continues to develop her passion and commitment to providing careful assessment and treatment recommendations for difficulties that impact overall functioning. All assessments, interventions, and treatment plans are individualized based on each patient’s specific needs, concerns, presenting problems and lifestyle demands. Dr. Lyons’ assessment reports outline specific cognitive, academic, neurocognitive, and/or social-emotional dysfunction with a detailed analysis of test results and personalized intervention strategies. Dr. Lyons also offers a range of therapy and consultation services, including school observations, attendance at school meetings, tours of therapeutic or educational placements, and coordination of care with other professionals, to support patients and their families when implementing the recommendations. Her primary goal is to provide quality, comprehensive assessments for children and to work in partnership with parents and professionals to enlighten them about the patient’s functional capacity and to identify and access appropriate intervention services to help them reach their overall potential.
Contact Dr. Lyons at kara@mynccteam.com
By telephone 954.306.8819
* Please read our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.