A neuropsychological evaluation is a specialized type of assessment done by a neuropsychologist. Neuropsychology is a special area of psychology that focuses on understanding brain-behavior relationships in individuals. This is often associated with disruptions in brain development from injury or developmental disorder. Many areas involved in thinking, learning and daily functioning are tested including memory, attention, executive function (how children exhibit mental control and self-regulation), perception, coordination, language, adaptive and social-emotional functioning as it relates to a child’s medical history. It’s helpful for a neuropsychologist to evaluate a child during the early stages of treatment for a baseline, and in the years following in order to identify late effects of the disease and associated treatment.
For children with CHD, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends regular neurodevelopmental evaluations to monitor for possible areas of weakness. A neuropsychological evaluation can fulfill this requirement. If your child is four years of age or older, they may participate in neuropsychological testing as part of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome (CANDO) Program. Melissa Duva, program coordinator, can provide additional information and begin the intake process for the Children’s National Division of Neuropsychology at 202-476-6867.
