What Is Pediatric Neuropsychology?
Pediatric Neuropsychology explores the brain functions underlying a child’s learning, cognition, behavior, and social-emotional development. The neuropsychological evaluation assesses your child’s functioning in areas such as IQ, memory, attention and executive functioning, academics, motor coordination, language, and social-emotional. This information will help you and your child’s teacher, therapists, and physician provide treatments and interventions for your child that will meet his or her unique needs.
Why are kids referred for evaluations?
Typically, referrals are made by pediatricians, psychiatrists, therapists, school personnel, or other treatment providers (speech therapist, occupational therapist, etc.) for the following reasons:
Developmental Delays/Neurodevelopmental Issues: If there are questions about your child's development, results can determine appropriate supports and services.
Learning Differences: Some kids learn differently. These learning differences can be seen in toddlers (colors, shapes, letters), school-age kids (reading/dyslexia, math, writing), and adolescents (planning essays, comprehending complex written material, executive functioning deficits).
Attention Difficulties: For children who struggle with attention and/or restlessness, results can indicate an underlying condition like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Behavioral, Social, Emotional Difficulties: Many children experience behavioral or emotional issues at home and/or at school. Parents may be wondering about the interaction among their child's emotional, behavioral, social, and academic functioning and how to improve their child's progress.
Autism Spectrum Evaluations: Children may be showing signs such as delayed language, difficulty socializing, or atypical behaviors. An evaluation can clarify diagnosis and guide treatment planning.
How Will The Results Help My Kid?
Explain why your child is having problems at school
Provide tailored recommendations to improve your child's behavior and learning in school and at home.
Create a profile of your child's strengths and weaknesses in order to promote your child's functioning across settings
Determine how your child's emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties may be influencing one another and your child's academic progress and home life
Elucidate patterns or difficulties that may be interfering with communication and cohesiveness in the family
Identify the effects of developmental, neurological, and medical problems on their functioning
What Should I Expect?
A neuropsychological evaluation usually includes an interview with parents, observations of the child, rating forms completed by teachers and parents, and testing. Testing involves pencil-and-paper activities, oral questions, hands-on puzzles, and computer-based measures. Parents are usually not in the room during testing, although they may be present with very young children. After testing is complete, you will have the opportunity to meet with me to discuss the results of the evaluation. You will receive a comprehensive written report with results and individualized recommendations. I am also available to participate in meetings and follow-up appointments if necessary.
Pediatric Evaluations are conducted by Chrystal Gray, Ph.D. Dr. Gray is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in developmental and neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Gray obtained her doctoral degree in School Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology at Indiana University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at Brooklyn Learning Center in New York. Since completing her training, she has provided evaluations to children with acquired brain disorders; neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disorders (e.g., dyslexia), ADHD; and anxiety, and mood disorders.