Kristen Mackiewicz Seghete, Ph.D., Clinic Director

Call for intake 503 494-6176

Location: Doernbecher Children's Hospital, 7th Floor under the Butterfly Parking: Doernbecher Children's Hospital Parking Clinic Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30a.m. to 5 p.m. Fax: 503 494-6170

The Pediatric Neuropsychology Clinic provides comprehensive evaluations for children and adolescents with suspected neuropsychological dysfunction.

Why Are Children Referred for Neuropsychological Assessment?

Children are often referred due to difficulties in memory, learning, attention, behavior, socialization, or emotional control. These difficulties may be secondary to psychiatric disorders or learning disabilities, or may often involve neurological conditions such as the effects of a brain tumor, birth complications, epilepsy, toxic exposures, or head injuries and concussion. They may also involve deficits associated with anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney disease, genetic abnormalities, metabolic diseases, and/or the effects of treatments (e.g., medication) or interventions which may impact neurological or neuropsychological functioning.

What is Assessed?

A typical neuropsychological evaluation of a school-age child may assess any/all of the following areas:

• General intellect
• Academic achievement skills
• Executive skills, such as organization, planning, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility
• Attention
• Learning and memory
• Language
• Visual-spatial skills
• Motor coordination and sensory skills
• Behavioral and emotional functioning

What Can the Results Tell Me About a Child?

Testing may help to explain why a child is having learning and/or behavioral problems and may aid in clinical diagnosis. The results of a neuropsychological evaluation guide treatment recommendations to provide the most individualized and comprehensive support for all who are involved in the child's life.

What Is Entailed?

Evaluations typically include an interview with parents about the child's history, observation of and interview with the child, and testing of the child. Testing involves paper and pencil and hands-on activities, answering questions, and sometimes using a computer. Parents may be asked to fill out questionnaires about their child's development and behavior. A typical evaluation is completed over the course of several days. At the first visit, parents will be asked to come in for a detailed interview. In most cases, there will be a second appointment (on a different day) during which the testing (typically 3-6 hours) occurs and the interview with the child is conducted. After the testing has been scored, results have been compiled, and a report has been written, a third appointment will be scheduled during which feedback will be provided.