Robin Peterson, PhD

Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation


FacultyPhoto
Graduate Schools
  • MEd, Lesley University (1999)
  • PhD, University of Denver (2010)
Undergraduate School
  • AB, Harvard University (MA) (1998)
Internship
  • University of Colorado (Children's Hospital Colorado) Child Psychology Program (2010)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado (Children's Hospital Colorado) Child Psychology Program, Neuropsychology (2012)
Languages
English
Department
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Professional Titles

  • Pediatric Neuropsychologist
  • Associate Professor

Publications

  • Pennington, BF, McGrath, LM, and Peterson, RL (2019). Diagnosing Learning Disorders (3rd Edition): From Science to Practice. New York: Guilford Press.
  • Villagomez AN, Muñoz FM, Peterson RL, Colbert AM, Gladstone M, MacDonald B, Wilson R, Fairlie L, Gerner GJ, Patterson J, Boghossian NS, Burton VJ, Cortés M, Katikaneni LD, Larson JCG, Angulo AS, Joshi J, Nesin M, Padula MA, Kochhar S, Connery AK. Neurodevelopmental delay: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunization safety data. Vaccine. 2019 Dec 10;37(52):7623-7641. PubMed PMID: 31783983
  • Sussman ZW, Peterson RL, Connery AK, Baker DA, Kirkwood MW. Utility of matrix reasoning as an embedded performance validity indicator in pediatric mild traumatic brain injury. Appl Neuropsychol Child. 2019 Jan-Mar;8(1):70-75. PubMed PMID: 29058467
  • Kirkwood, M. W., Crossland, M. M., Howell, D. R., Wilson, J. C., & Peterson, R. L. (2020). A longitudinal investigation of symptom recovery following concussion in youth soccer. The Journal of pediatrics, 220, 207-213.
  • Simpson, T. S., Peterson, R. L., Patrick, K. E., Forster, J. E., & McNally, K. A. (2020). Concussion Symptom Treatment and Education Program: A Feasibility Study. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.
  • Ransom DM, Caldwell CT, DiVirgilio EK, McNally KA, Peterson RL, Ploetz DM, Sady MD, Slomine BS. Pediatric mTBI during the COVID-19 pandemic: considerations for evaluation and management. Child Neuropsychol. 2021 Oct 6;:1-19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34615434
  • Peterson RL, McGrath LM, Willcutt EG, Keenan JM, Olson RK, Pennington BF. How Specific Are Learning Disabilities?. J Learn Disabil. 2021 Nov;54(6):466-483. PubMed PMID: 33446025
  • Simpson TS, Peterson RL, Patrick KE, Forster JE, McNally KA. Concussion Symptom Treatment and Education Program: A Feasibility Study. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2021 Mar-Apr 01;36(2):E79-E88. PubMed PMID: 32769833
  • Simpson TS, Grande LA, Kenny JJ, Wilson PE, Peterson RL. Child, Parent, and Family Adjustment for Patients Followed in a Multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Clinic. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2022 Summer;28(3):41-58. PubMed PMID: 36017123
  • Boada KL, Boada R, Pennington BF, Peterson RL. Sequencing Deficits and Phonological Speech Errors, But Not Articulation Errors, Predict Later Literacy Skills. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022 Jun 8;65(6):2081-2097. PubMed PMID: 35472280
  • Ransom DM, Caldwell CT, DiVirgilio EK, McNally KA, Peterson RL, Ploetz DM, Sady MD, Slomine BS. Pediatric mTBI during the COVID-19 pandemic: considerations for evaluation and management. Child Neuropsychol. 2022 Apr;28(3):355-373. PubMed PMID: 34615434
  • 2Beauchamp, M, Peterson RL, Ris, D, Taylor, HG, and Yeates, KO (Eds) (2022). Pediatric Neuropsychology (3rd Edition): Research, Theory, and Practice. New York: Guilford.
  • Peterson, RL & Pennington, BF (2022). Speech, language, and reading disabilities. In: M Beauchamp, RL Peterson, MD Ris, HG Taylor, and KO Yeates (Eds): Pediatric Neuropsychology (3rd Edition): Research, Theory, and Practice. New York: Guilford
  • Kramer E, Willcutt EG, Peterson RL, Pennington BF, McGrath LM. Processing Speed is Related to the General Psychopathology Factor in Youth. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2023 Aug;51(8):1179-1193. PubMed PMID: 37086335
  • Rosenthal SL, Simpson TS, Kirkwood MW, Peterson RL. Quality of Life of Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Youth Soccer Players Title Page. J Athl Train. 2023 Jul 18. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37459368
  • Simpson TS, Leopold DR, Wilson PE, Peterson RL. Cognitive disengagement syndrome in pediatric spina bifida. Child Neuropsychol. 2024 Feb;30(1):87-104. PubMed PMID: 36803439

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Psychology, Board Certification
  • American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, Board Certification (2015)
  • American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology--Pediatric Subspecialty, Board Certification (2018)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Brain and Nervous System - Cerebral Palsy
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Brain and Nervous System - Intellectual Disability
  • Brain and Nervous System - Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injuries, strokes)
  • Brain and Nervous System - Concussion Assessment
  • Brain and Nervous System - Head Injury
  • Brain and Nervous System - Hydrocephalus
  • Brain and Nervous System - Language Disorders
  • Brain and Nervous System - Spina Bifida
Clinical Interests
I provide neuropsychological evaluations to children and adolescents in order to help understand brain-based learning or developmental challenges and give parents, schools, and the medical team guidance about appropriate supports. I am particularly interested in working with children with the following conditions: concussion, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, perinatal stroke, and learning disabilities.

Care Philosophy
In my work with children and families, I use several sources of information to learn about how the child is functioning in different contexts (family, home, and community) and to try to identify the basis for any current concerns. I then strive to work with families to develop a treatment plan that will capitalize on the child's strengths and support the child in areas of weakness to promote an optimal developmental trajectory.