Neuropsychology in the Department of Rehabilitation at The Children’s Hospital
Pediatric neuropsychology is a specialty area of psychology that uses knowledge of the developing brain in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of children’s cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Neuropsychology services provided through the Rehabilitation Department include comprehensive assessment of a child’s neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning, as well as evaluation of psychosocial adjustment and academic achievement.
Most of the patients seen for neuropsychological assessments through Rehabilitation are referred because of learning and/or behavioral difficulties secondary to medical problems. Some of the more common diagnoses that children present with include:
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Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spina Bifida
- Hydrocephalus
- Prematurity
- Stroke
- Anoxia
- Encephalitis and Meningitis
How Neuropsychological Assessments Differ from Psychological Assessments
School psychologists, clinical psychologists, and neuropsychologists all employ similar measures when evaluating behavior – that is, they use psychological and other tests to examine how a child is functioning in comparison to his or her age-mates. Thus, an IQ test, academic achievement test, or test of a child’s emotional adjustment could be used by any one of these providers.
Despite this overlap in instrumentation, the services offered by each discipline are different. Assessments conducted by school psychologists focus on eligibility for special education or other school-related services and are generally focused on evaluating a child’s functioning in relationship to academic success. Assessments conducted by clinical psychologists are often focused on the psychological/emotional functioning of the child, though they can examine almost any aspect of the child’s cognitive or behavioral status. School and clinical psychological assessments emphasize functions or psychological processes, without explicitly referencing brain structures or mechanisms.
Neuropsychological Assessments at The Children's Hospital
The evaluation component of the assessment involves three parts:
Historical information is gathered through record reviews, background questionnaires, and interviews with parents/guardians, teachers, and treatment providers. Observational data are collected by systematically and rigorously examining the child’s behavior under specific test demands, as well as during examiner- and parent-child interactions. Psychological tests involve a combination of verbal questions, paper and pencil activities, and hands-on tasks. They are non-invasive. Individual neuropsychological assessments vary based on the nature of the referral question, the particular provider, and the age and stamina of the child being evaluated. Most neuropsychological evaluations tap into the following areas:
