Neuropsychologic assessment

Abstract

The purpose of a pediatric neuropsychologic assessment is to evaluate cognitive, behavioral, sensory-motor, perceptual, and socioaffective functioning. A standardized, validated set of tools, questionnaires, and qualitative methods is applied to this end. The neuropsychologist integrates the results of the formal assessment, the case history, and third-party observations to interpret the individual findings across disciplines and draw conclusions about brain-behavior relationships. Various indications for neuropsychologic assessment include the identification of neurodevelopmental difficulties and the characterization of the impact of medical conditions or a pharmaceutical treatment. Prior to the evaluation, as much information as possible must be gathered about the child for efficient and accurate planning. In the context of pediatric neuropsychologic assessments, special challenges requiring more flexibility as regards the duration of the assessment, the use of different age-specific tools, or particular sensitivity when interacting with the child may arise. Neuropsychologic assessment is a cornerstone in the process of diagnosing neurodevelopmental disabilities in children and is frequently a component of a multidisciplinary evaluation. From it can be derived recommendations for the different contexts of a child's life (e.g., family, care team, school).

Keywords: Brain–behavior relationship; Cognitive functioning; Neuropsychologic evaluation; Pediatric population; Psychometric tests; Standardized cognitive assessment.