Paediatric Neuropsychology
Paediatric Neuropsychology is a specialist service under CAMHS. Referrals can only be made by specialist paediatric services such as Neurology, Oncology and Complex Disability as the service only sees children and young people who have already undergone medical investigations to understand / diagnose their condition. Neuropsychological assessment will require these investigations (including imaging, blood tests, EEGs) to be complete prior to referral. The Paediatric Neuropsychological service does not accept referrals for assessment/ diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions (such as Autism or ADHD) or specific learning impairments (such as dyslexia).
We are Clinical Psychologists with special training in neuropsychology. We see children and young people with neurological (nervous system) conditions or injuries affecting their brain.
A Neuropsychological assessment looks at how the brain is working. It also looks at learning, thinking skills and behaviour.
A Neuropsychological assessment looks at how the brain is working. It also looks at learning, thinking skills and behaviour.
Children and young people are referred for different reasons including:
• To assess how a neurological condition affects how the brain is working. This might include infection, injury, tumour, epilepsy
• To assess how different types of treatment are affecting how the brain is working. This might include medication, chemotherapy or neurosurgery.
• Psychological therapy or “talking therapy” to help with feeling worried, sad or struggling to cope with neurological conditions.
• To assess how a neurological condition affects how the brain is working. This might include infection, injury, tumour, epilepsy
• To assess how different types of treatment are affecting how the brain is working. This might include medication, chemotherapy or neurosurgery.
• Psychological therapy or “talking therapy” to help with feeling worried, sad or struggling to cope with neurological conditions.
• We will ask you some questions about your child’s development and current skills.
We will also ask you about your child’s medical history and any psychological
problems they may be experiencing.
• We will use some pencil and paper tasks and puzzles to test thinking skills.
Sometimes these tasks may be on a computer. This might include looking at
drawings, drawing things from memory and making patterns. We might also ask
you to complete questionnaires.
• We will ask for permission to contact school or others involved in your child’s care to gather more information to help guide the assessment.
Parents and carers may wish to observe the assessment or wait in the nearby reception area.
We will also ask you about your child’s medical history and any psychological
problems they may be experiencing.
• We will use some pencil and paper tasks and puzzles to test thinking skills.
Sometimes these tasks may be on a computer. This might include looking at
drawings, drawing things from memory and making patterns. We might also ask
you to complete questionnaires.
• We will ask for permission to contact school or others involved in your child’s care to gather more information to help guide the assessment.
Parents and carers may wish to observe the assessment or wait in the nearby reception area.
When the assessment is finished, we will make another appointment to give feedback and answer your questions.
We will also write a report and send it to the person who referred your child to the service.
The report will include the results of all the tests and we will give an opinion on your child’s functioning.
You will also get a copy of the report. We will usually copy the report and recommendations to school. We will ask your permission to do this.
We may also attend meetings with other professionals or at the school to explain what things your child finds difficult and to help make plans to support them.
We might offer you further appointments for psychological therapy if you are feeling sad or worried about your neurological condition and these feelings are affecting your everyday life or stopping you doing things you enjoy.
We will also write a report and send it to the person who referred your child to the service.
The report will include the results of all the tests and we will give an opinion on your child’s functioning.
You will also get a copy of the report. We will usually copy the report and recommendations to school. We will ask your permission to do this.
We may also attend meetings with other professionals or at the school to explain what things your child finds difficult and to help make plans to support them.
We might offer you further appointments for psychological therapy if you are feeling sad or worried about your neurological condition and these feelings are affecting your everyday life or stopping you doing things you enjoy.
This can be a bit different for everyone. We usually have four appointments to do the assessment and then an appointment to give feedback. The first appointment is usually between one to two hours. Follow up appointments usually last around one hour. It is okay to take short breaks or stop the tests if you need to.
We are based at The Centre for Child Health, 19 Dudhope Terrace, Dundee, DD3 6HH.
Your appointment might be in different locations across NHS Tayside. This will be written in your appointment letter.
Your appointment might be in different locations across NHS Tayside. This will be written in your appointment letter.
If your child needs glasses for reading or use a hearing aid, please bring these to the appointment with them.
Children and young people with neurological conditions can face a range of emotional, social and learning challenges. The links contained in these pages aim to help children and young people and their families access advice and support for living with a neurological condition.
The most commonly presenting neurological conditions have specific web pages, however, it is possible that a child/ young person may have more than one condition (i.e. an acquired brain injury and epilepsy) and therefore may find multiple links below helpful.
There is also a link to information on supporting healthy sleep which may be relevant to all children and young people.
Please remember that every person with a neurological condition is unique and may have different experiences of diagnosis, treatment and face their own challenges, some of the information contained within these pages may be more or less relevant to you/ your child. If you are unsure about information contained and how it relates to you/your child’s condition, please discuss with the paediatric team.
There is also a link to information on supporting healthy sleep which may be relevant to all children and young people.
Please remember that every person with a neurological condition is unique and may have different experiences of diagnosis, treatment and face their own challenges, some of the information contained within these pages may be more or less relevant to you/ your child. If you are unsure about information contained and how it relates to you/your child’s condition, please discuss with the paediatric team.
Children and young people with neurological conditions can also experience mental health difficulties such as anxiety and low mood. The “Things to Try” link on the CAMHS website provides links to helpful advice and sources of support for a range of mental health needs. The strategies and supports included in these pages would be equally helpful for those who also have a neurological condition.
Individuals who have a neurological condition are at increased risk of presenting with neurodevelopmental conditions. The CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Portal has been developed by specialist neurodevelopmental clinicians within CAMHS and includes specialist advice and strategies to manage common challenges, so you can also access lots of information by creating an account on the Portal here.
Individuals who have a neurological condition are at increased risk of presenting with neurodevelopmental conditions. The CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Portal has been developed by specialist neurodevelopmental clinicians within CAMHS and includes specialist advice and strategies to manage common challenges, so you can also access lots of information by creating an account on the Portal here.