Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology, a division of the Neurology Department, provides consultation and evaluation regarding the relationship of abilities, behaviors and mental skills to changes in brain functioning and integrity in infants, children and teens. We also monitor development and examine the long-term outcome of children with neurologic or systemic disease so that families can plan for the future.

We see patients with neurologic conditions such as seizures, hydrocephalus, brain tumors, strokes, inherited metabolic diseases, neurofibromatosis and more. We also see children with medical disorders that affect the central nervous system, such as leukemia, cardiac disease or auto-immune diseases.

Why choose Children’s Hospital Colorado?

At Children's Hospital Colorado we treat only infants, children and teens - day in and day out - making us the experts when it comes to treating your child. We have the pediatric training, experience and equipment needed to provide the best care for your child.

Our neuropsychologists have been specially trained in pediatric neuropsychology and are certified by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. Each of our neurologists has specific areas of expertise and experience, including the evaluation of children and adolescents with seizures, strokes, brain tumors, neoplasms, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, urea cycle disorders and more.

Conditions we treat

We provide treatment, schooling and long-term planning for children with the following conditions:

• Brain tumors
• Seizures
• Neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis
• Stroke
• Neurometabolic diseases
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Other disorders or diseases that affect the central nervous system

Services offered

We provide clinical evaluation that includes the assessment of motor and sensory functions, memory, language, visual perception, thinking and reasoning skills, academic skills, attention and frontal lobe (executive function) skills. Evaluations are often, but not always, completed in conjunction with hematologists, oncologists, neurosurgeons and neurologists.

Neuropsychologists provide their services and expertise within many of the clinics at Children’s, including the Stroke Program, Epilepsy Program, Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic, Neurofibromatosis Clinic, HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Excel) Clinic, Neuromuscular Clinic and Neuro-Oncology Program. 

Neuropsychologists are also part of the Children’s Colorado Epilepsy Program and are involved in multidisciplinary efforts to evaluate and treat patients with epilepsy, using different and innovative treatments and approaches.

Research

The neuropsychologists at Children’s are currently involved in research examining the efficacy of anticonvulsant drugs, their effect on cognition and behavior, and the use of medication to aide memory in individuals with trisomy 21.

The neuropsychology team is also involved in multiple research topics including:

• Understanding the outcome for children after seizure surgery
• The effect of liver diseases on cognition and behavior
• Identification of moderating variables effecting cognitive outcome after treatment for leukemia and brain tumors
• The role of sleep disorders and their treatment on cognition
• Long term outcome of children who have strokes