Neuropsychology Evaluations
Brain or spinal cord tumors can affect your child in many ways. A neuropsychologist is an expert psychologist who evaluates how the brain impacts thinking and behavior. This specialist can assess how a tumor may affect your child’s memory, attention span, mood or motor skills.
At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we care for your child’s mental and physical well-being. Our neuropsychology services are an example of this holistic approach. And we have one of the only neuropsychologists in Southern California who is specifically trained in pediatric care. In fact, fewer than 100 neuropsychologists in the country have expertise in pediatric neuropsychology.
What Is a Pediatric Neuropsychology Evaluation?
Neuropsychologists look at how physical changes in the brain affect your child’s thinking, behavior and motor skills. The goal of any neuropsychology evaluation is to give your child and your family the necessary tools to improve your child’s quality of life.
A neuropsychologist may recommend:
- Individualized education plans (IEP)
- Medication
- Occupational therapy
- Strategies to improve focus
Neuropsychological symptoms
If your child has a brain or spinal cord tumor, it might lead to some of these neuropsychological effects. These side effects might occur because of the tumor itself, or they might occur after radiation or chemotherapy.
Depending on where the tumor is, your child might experience:
- Balance problems
- Difficulty focusing
- Memory challenges
- Mood swings
- Short attention span
- Trouble with prioritizing tasks
Late-emerging brain tumor side effects
Sometimes, the side effects of having a brain tumor in childhood may not appear until your child is a teenager or young adult. For example, one common late effect is problems with executive functioning. Executive functioning is the ability to prioritize, plan and switch tasks efficiently.
Even when these side effects show up later, your child can come to a neuropsychologist at CHLA for evaluation, until age 21. This long-term follow-up ensures that your child continues to experience a high quality of life into adulthood.
Support for Brain Tumor Side Effects
CHLA specialists offer a range of services to help your child experience a higher quality of life. Learn more about the HOPE Behavioral Health, Neuropsychology and Education Service.
