The children’s neuropsychology service is for children and young people up to the age of 18 to understand and treat the difficulties that are caused by neurological illness or injury.
Children and young people come to us with a range of difficulties, including:
- Acquired cognitive (memory, attention and concentration), academic, behavioural or social difficulties after incidents such as brain injuries, infection or stroke
- Difficulties with brain development after early problems such as cerebral palsy or neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis
- Struggling to cope or come to terms with a neurological diagnosis
- Neurologically unexplainable symptoms
- Psychological support for parents of seriously ill children on the children’s neurology ward.
The clinical neuropsychologists will aim to understand and treat the difficulties that are caused by neurological illness or injury.
They will use a range of different tests to assess:
- Problems with thinking abilities (i.e. concentration, memory, planning, problem solving),
- Behavioural problems (i.e. anger, compulsions)
- Emotional problems (i.e. anxiety, depression, trauma).
The assessment is used to help manage these difficulties in the most appropriate way.
What will happen during the first appointment?
We usually see children who have emotional or behavioural difficulties together with their parents. After that, children may be offered separate appointments – depending on their individual needs.
Appointments usually last between one and two hours, but this will be less for very young or very sick children.
For specific types of neuropsychological assessment, we may see some children in school: this can take up to two hours.
After their appointment, families will usually be sent copies of reports and documents which are also sent to the paediatric neurologist who referred them to us.
How can my child be referred into the service?
Consultant paediatric neurologists, paediatricians and specialist nurses can refer children and families to our service.
