What is a Neuropsychologist?
A neuropsychologist is a doctor with advanced training emphasizing brain anatomy and physiology, central nervous system diseases, and neuropsychological tests. Neuropsychologists determine if problems are due to an 
injury, illness, disease, developmental disability, something that happened during fetal development, or mental illness. Pediatric neuropsychologists specialize in working with children and adolescents. Simply, neuropsychologists examine how the brain works and how it controls goal-directed behaviors (e.g., learning, memory, language, processing information, planning, problem-solving, sustaining attention, using muscles, etc.). A neuropsychological evaluation is often recommended to make a diagnosis, assist with treatment planning, and to document specific neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses.
What is the difference between psychologists and neuropsychologists and how do their evaluations differ?
Psychologists and neuropsychologists both examine how a person acts, feels, and thinks. Psychologists generally make diagnoses based on emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric conditions. Neuropsychologists are actually psychologists, who have undergone specialized training in the form of a postdoctoral residency. They generally make diagnoses based on medical conditions, though an important component of a neuropsychological evaluation also includes behavioral, emotional, social, and adaptive functioning.
What is Involved in a Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A pediatric neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of many areas of a child’s functioning. An evaluation begins with an office visit in order to obtain more information about the child’s developmental and medical history, and presenting problems. When the child meets with the doctor, a neurobehavioral examination is part of the visit to gain a better understanding of the child’s central nervous system functioning. The child then meets with a trained neuropsychometrist for testing. Some of the test items require your child to answer questions, solve puzzles, and build things while others involve coordination tasks, or drawing. The best thing is that the evaluation is painless, no needles are involved!
When is a Neuropsychological Evaluation Needed?
If A Child Has (Or Is Suspected To Have):
- A neurological condition such as seizures, tics, muscular dystrophy, hydrocephalus, hypoxia, headaches, central nervous system infection, or a brain tumor
- A brain injury resulting from an accident, stroke, or infection in the brain
- Exposure to toxins such as lead or other substances either during childhood or prenatally
- A condition requiring surgery that is suspected to impact neurocognitive functioning such as neurosurgery or heart and/or lung transplantation.
- Other medical problems that place a child at an increased risk for brain impairment such as premature birth, chronic heart or respiratory problems, metabolic problems, endocrine problems, certain genetic disorders, or treatment for cancer
- A developmental disorder such as autism, language disorder, or motor coordination problems
- Memory or attention problems that are impacting daily functioning at home or school such as cognitive disorders or attention-deficit
- A learning disability such as reading, writing, math, or nonverbal learning disorder
- Behavior or psychiatric disorders such as defiance, uncontrollable emotions, tantruming, mood, anxiety, or eating problems