The Role of Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment in Primary Care Practice

Abstract

As medical practitioners, physicians are typically the first clinical professionals to evaluate a child. In addition, physicians are one of the few clinicians who maintain an ongoing, consistent relationship with children and their parents. In contrast, pediatric neuropsychologists typically serve as consultants who work with children for a brief, circumscribed period of time. The purpose of the present article is to provide an overview of pediatric neuropsychological assessment and outline the ways in which pediatric neuropsychology contributes to the practice of primary care physicians and the care of children. Pediatric neuropsychological assessment involves the examination of children’s neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning. 1-3 Specifically, it involves the integration of information across a number of domains within the context of development and brain/behavior relationships (the interaction between cognitive functioning, medical issues, and psychiatric factors). Pediatric neuropsychological assessment includes the evaluation of children’s intellectual ability, memory, attention, executive/ organizational skills, perceptual‐spatial skills, graphomotor-coordination skills, and socio-emotional functioning. Psychoeducational testing is often included for the assessment of learning and academic achievement. Developmental testing includes the assessment of children under the age of 5 and involves the evaluation of skill acquisition across a number of domains (eg, gross- and fine-motor skills, communication, self-help skills, and sociability). Pediatric neuropsychological evaluations are more comprehensive than evaluations conducted within the school setting. The primary purpose of a school-based evaluation is the assessment of a child’s functioning within the school environment, the identification of barriers to a child’s successful academic performance, and determination of eligibility for special education services or accommodations (Individuals with Disabil