Integrating Neurological, Neuroradiological, and Psychological Examinations in Neuropsychological Assessment

Abstract

This chapter provides guidelines to help psychologists determine when to refer a child or adolescent for neuropsychological assessment, neurological examination, or other neurodiagnostic testing (e.g., CT scan or MRI). Children and adolescents often need neurological, neuroradiological, and/ or neuropsychological assessments. Although not every child seen for cognitive, academic, psychiatric, or behavioral problems requires further assessment apart from traditional psychoeducational evaluations, some disorders do need further attention by specialists to investigate the child’s neurological or neuropsychological status. Clinical and school psychologists should be apprised of conditions that typically require further attention. The nature of neurologic, neuroradiologic, and neuropsychological assessment will be discussed, along with guidelines for making referrals. Further, aspects of psychological, psychosocial, and academic functioning are discussed, as these areas may be seriously compromised by brain-related disorders of childhood. Integration of these various evaluation findings are discussed.