Pediatric neuropsychology

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Pediatric neuropsychology is a branch of clinical neuropsychology that looks at how brain health affects a child’s thinking, learning, behavior, and daily functioning. Neuropsychologists in this field often teach, research, supervise, and train students.

Training varies by country. In the United States, most people don’t specialize in pediatrics during undergraduate or general psychology programs. They typically earn a PhD or PsyD in clinical child psychology, pediatric psychology, clinical neuropsychology, or school psychology and then complete supervised pediatric neuropsychology training during internships or after the degree. In the United Kingdom, formal Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology Training is offered through University College London (UCL) and is part of the British Psychological Society’s Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology. This includes supervised practice and a portfolio, and completion allows registration on the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychology.

Pediatric neuropsychologists usually have several years of postdoctoral training focused on developmental or acquired brain problems in children. They work in settings where children with brain or nervous system issues are treated, such as neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, in hospitals or clinics. They may also work in schools and provide mental health services.

They assess and treat a range of conditions, including traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, and epilepsy; as well as ADHD, learning disabilities, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorders. The goal of the evaluation is to map a child’s brain-related strengths and weaknesses, understand the cause of problems, help with diagnosis, and guide treatment and educational planning.

In the United States and Canada, psychologists must be licensed to practice, and two professional boards specifically certify pediatric neuropsychologists.

Although pediatric and adult neuropsychology share many methods, working with children involves unique considerations, such as interpreting results in the context of development and guiding interventions to support learning and daily functioning. The work helps determine functional outcomes and tailor interventions for issues related to genetics, prenatal factors, systemic illnesses, injuries, autism, or learning disorders.