Pediatric Neuropsychology

Pediatric Neuropsychology: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What is Clinical Neuropsychology?

Clinical neuropsychology is focused on understanding the link between the brain and behavior. For example, how changes in the health of the brain may affect the ability to pay attention, remember, or solve problems. This understanding between how someone thinks and acts and how the brain works is used to diagnosis and treat brain disorders.

What is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist?

Pediatric neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists. They have training in both clinical psychology and neuropsychology. They have special training in how the brain develops. They use this training to evaluate and help manage children with brain disorders. Such disorders may involve brain injury, medical disease, or developmental problems. Pediatric neuropsychologists help parents, teachers, and physicians to:

• Understand how problems with the brain may relate to problems seen at school, home, or with peers
• Understand how a child learns best
• Understand why a child may have behavior problems
• Help a child deal with thinking or behavior problems
• Identify neurological or psychiatric problems
• Help match expectations to a child’s specific strengths and weaknesses
• Work with other doctors and teachers to develop the best treatment and school plan for a child

How do I know if my child needs a Neuropsychological Evaluation?

A neuropsychological evaluation may help if your child has:

• A neurological disorder such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizures), neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, or a brain tumor.
• A brain injury from a trauma to the head, stroke, lack of oxygen, or an infection.
• Other medical problems such as prematurity, diabetes, chronic heart or breathing problems, certain genetic disorders, or treatment for childhood cancer.
• Been exposed to lead, street drugs, or inhalants (carbon monoxide).
• Been exposed to alcohol, smoking, or certain drugs prior to birth.
• A developmental or school problem such as a learning disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or autism spectrum disorder/pervasive developmental disorder.
• Had an evaluation by a psychologist or the school, but the treatment following that evaluation has not helped.

Your physician may recommend a neuropsychological assessment to:

• Help make or confirm a diagnosis.
• Get a record of your child’s functioning before treatment with medicine or surgery.
• Record a change in your child after a medical treatment (testing can be repeated to see if the treatment changed your child’s functioning).
• Record your child’s development treatments and expectations can be adjusted to your child’s needs.

What does a Neuropsychological Evaluation Involve?

A neuropsychological evaluation involves examining thinking, behavior, and social-emotional functioning. The evaluation uses standardized tests and procedures. Examiners work directly with your child. They also talk to you and teachers and other doctors. Tests may be performed using paper and pencil or on the computer. Your child will be asked many questions and to solve different types of problems.. Neuropsychological evaluations typically include tests that measure the following:

• Intelligence (IQ)
• Problem solving
• Planning and organization
• Attention and memory
• Processing speed
• Language
• Academic skills
• Visual perception
• Control over hand movements
• Depression and anxiety
• Aggression and impulsive behavior
• Social skills

The neuropsychologist will also review your child’s medical and school records to help understand how the test results relate to daily life.

How does a Neuropsychological Evaluation differ from a school evaluation?

Pediatric neuropsychologists and school psychologists often use some of the same tests. However, school evaluations focus on deciding if a child has a problem with academic skills such as reading, spelling, or math. Pediatric neuropsychologists focus on understanding why a child is having problems in school or at home. This is done by examining academic skills but also examining all of the thinking skills needed to perform well in and outside of school – skills like memory, attention, and problem-solving Understanding a child’s specific thinking strengths and weaknesses helps to better focus school plans and medical treatment and understand potential areas of future difficulty. Because neuropsychologists have training in clinical psychology, they are also able to diagnosis emotional problems like depression and anxiety.

How do I find a Pediatric Neuropsychologist?

A list of board-certified neuropsychologists can be found in our member directory.

Why Was My Child Referred to a Neuropsychologist?

A neuropsychologist focuses on understanding the connections between brain functioning and thinking abilities, emotions, and behavior. Neuropsychologists can help parents as well as school and healthcare personnel understand these connections. Neuropsychological evaluations can help answer questions about a child’s thinking or behavior at home or school and provide recommendations to improve the child’s functioning.

What is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist?

A pediatric neuropsychologist should have the following training and credentials:

• A doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, PsyD) from a university accredited by the American Psychological Association or Canadian Psychological Association (APA/CPA);
• An accredited (APA/CPA) 1-year internship;
• A two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology;
  • This training focuses on how the brain works, how the brain develops, and what kinds of things can get in the way of it working well.
• A psychology license from the State where he/she/they work;
• Many also completed board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology (with a Pediatric Neuropsychology subspecialization) through the American Board of Professional Psychology.

How do I Find a Neuropsychologist?

Click here to find a list of board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologists in your area. If you do not see one near you, you can ask your child’s doctor for recommendations.

How do I Know if my Child Needs a Neuropsychological Evaluation?

When a parent or professional believes that a child’s functioning may be affected by a medical or developmental condition, a neuropsychological evaluation can be helpful. A neuropsychologist can help establish if the child has trouble in thinking (e.g., attention, learning, memory), social/emotional skills, and/or behavioral functioning. Neuropsychologists often see children with problems like:

• a brain injury from a hit to the head, stroke, lack of oxygen, or an infection;
• other neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizures), brain tumors, or spina bifida;
• other medical problems like premature birth, diabetes, heart or breathing problems, genetic disorders, or childhood cancer;
• exposure to certain substances before being born or during childhood;
• trouble paying attention and sitting still, learning in school, or playing with other kids.

How Can a Pediatric Neuropsychology Evaluation Help My Child?

Pediatric neuropsychologists can help caregivers, school staff, therapists, and medical providers understand:

• how problems with the brain may relate to problems seen at school, home, or with other children;
• how a child best learns;
• why a child may have behavior problems;
• how to help a child deal with thinking or behavior problems;
• how to match expectations to a child’s specific strengths and weaknesses;
• what diagnoses may be appropriate, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability/Intellectual Developmental Disorder, and Learning Disabilities;
• what treatment and school plans will best help.

What Types of Areas of Thinking and Development May be Assessed?

How does a Neuropsychological Evaluation differ from a school evaluation?

• School evaluations typically focus on deciding if a child has a problem with academic skills such as reading, spelling, or math, or if there are other factors that cause trouble at school. School evaluations often include academic achievement tests, IQ tests, and rating scales completed by parents and/or teachers.
• School-based evaluations are used to determine eligibility for special education Neuropsychological evaluations can also provide information that relates directly to these decisions, but it is the school team that makes the final determinations.
• A multidisciplinary team typically completes school evaluations. This can generate helpful information from different professions, but the result may not be integrated into a unified picture of the child.
• Pediatric neuropsychologists use some of the same tests that school psychologists use, but they often evaluate more specific thinking abilities in greater detail, like memory, attention, and problem-solving. This broader consideration of functioning can help to identify why a child is having problems in school or at home.
• Neuropsychologists can give formal clinical This can help the family access necessary supports and resources to help a child in or outside school.
• Neuropsychologists have training in clinical psychology and brain-behavior They have specific experience working with students with many complex medical/neurological diagnoses. They are often able to help other professionals understand the connections between these conditions and the child’s daily performance. Neuropsychologists focus on understanding a child’s unique strengths and weaknesses, which can help plan school supports and medical treatments.
• Neuropsychologists can also help to identify potential challenges the child may have in the future and help to proactively address those concerns.

What Does a Neuropsychological Evaluation Typically Involve?