Pediatric Neuropsychology
What Is Pediatric Neuropsychology?
Pediatric neuropsychology is a professional specialty concerned with learning and behavior in relationship to your child’s brain. A pediatric neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with expertise in how learning and behavior are associated with the development of brain structures and systems. Pediatric neuropsychologists assess brain functioning in a number of ways, including formal testing. The pediatric neuropsychologist conducts the evaluation, interprets the test results and makes recommendations.
Areas That Pediatric Neuropsychology Assesses
A typical neuropsychological evaluation of a school-age child may assess these areas:
- Intellectual functioning
- Language
- Visual–spatial skills and visual-motor coordination
- Learning and memory
- Attention
- Executive functioning, such as organization, planning, inhibition, and flexibility
- Academic achievement, such as reading and math
- Behavioral and emotional functioning
- Social skills
Who Would Benefit From a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A pediatric neuropsychological evaluation might be a good option for any child or teen who has a medical condition that affects neurocognitive functioning, such as those listed in the next box.
Conditions & Treatments
We see a wide range of conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending on the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.
What Does a Neuropsychological Evaluation Look Like?
Neuropsychological testing usually includes an interview with you about your child’s history, observation of and an interview with your child, and testing. Testing involves paper and pencil and hands-on activities, answering questions and sometimes using a computer. You’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your child’s development and behavior.
You are usually not in the room during testing, although you may be present with very young children. The time required depends on your child’s age and issue (generally 4–6 hours). Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep before the testing. If your child wears glasses or a hearing aid or any other device, make sure to bring it. If your child has special language needs, please alert the neuropsychologist to these. If your child is on stimulant medication, such as Ritalin, or other medication, check with the neuropsychologist beforehand about coordinating dosage time with testing. If your child has had previous school testing, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, or has related medical records, please bring or send this information and records to the neuropsychologist for review.
What you tell your child about this evaluation depends on how much he or she can understand. Be simple and brief and relate your explanation to a problem that your child knows about such as “trouble with spelling,” “problems following directions” or “feeling upset.” If your child is worried, please reassure them that testing does not involve “shots.” Tell your child that you are trying to understand their problem to make things better. You may also tell them that “nobody gets every question right,” and that the important thing is to “try your best.” Your child will probably find the neuropsychological evaluation interesting, and the detailed information that is gathered will contribute to your child’s care.
For additional information regarding neuropsychological testing, you can learn more from The Society for Clinical Neuropsychology.
Meet the Team
You can find our neuropsychologists at multiple locations in the Delaware Valley and in Northeast Florida.