What Should I Tell My Child?

What you tell your child about a neuropsychological assessment depends on his or her age.  Keep explanations brief and related to problems your child is experiencing. Many children think coming to the doctor means they will get a shot. Let your child know there are no shots. He or she will be doing activities that involve listening, remembering, building, drawing, and using the computer. Your child will have breaks to use the bathroom, have snacks, and eat lunch.

The evaluation includes standardized measures, observations, and reports from parents, teachers, and other professionals involved with your child. The standardized measures that comprise the evaluation include pencil and paper tasks, hands-on activities, and use of a computer. There are no shots, or painful or invasive procedures in neuropsychological assessment.  Assessments typically include evaluation of areas such as general cognitive abilities, academic achievement, attention, executive functions, learning and memory, language, visuospatial skills, and motor coordination, as well as social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Specific tasks vary as each evaluation is tailored to your child’s specific needs.