Neuropsychology
Neuropsychological evaluations are typically conducted on children who have acquired a brain injury through physical trauma (for example traumatic brain injury, concussion) or a medical condition that affects brain function. These comprehensive evaluations are used to identify levels of cognitive deficit caused by the injury and gain an understanding of how the injury will affect learning, behavior, emotions and social participation in the future.
Physical trauma and medical conditions that can affect brain function include:
- Cerebral vascular accidents
-
Brain tumor
- Hypoxia
- Anoxia
- Toxic injury
- Infection (encephalitis, meningitis)
- Late effects of cancer treatment
- Degenerative diseases
- Epilepsy
- Traumatic brain Injury
A typical evaluation includes an assessment in the following areas:
- General intellectual function-basic academic skills
- Attention/working memory
- Visual spatial processing
- Language skills
- Motor skills
- Executive functions (planning, initiation, organization, mental flexibility)
- Social-emotional functioning
An initial neuropsychological evaluation provides a baseline of post-injury areas of deficit from which treatment and educational planning can be made. Repeated evaluations on an annual basis helps track the individual's recovery and ability to meet expected stages of brain maturation over time as a child and adolescent brain continues to grow through young adulthood.