American Family Children's Hospital
Free Info Session on Neuropsychological Testing: July 21
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Complete the RSVP Form for the Info Session
Contact Information
Sandy Bakk
(608) 890-8312
UW Health Services
American Family Children's Hospital
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
All parents and patients over age 17 are invited to join the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Advisory Group (PHOAG) on Tuesday, July 21 from 6 - 8pm to hear Neuropsychologist Peter Williamson, PhD, discuss neuropsychological testing as it relates to pediatric oncology and hematology.Free Info Session on Neuropsychological Testing:
July 21, 6 - 8pm | RSVP for the Event
The Neuropsychological presentation will be held in the Community Room, #1335, of American Family Children's Hospital. A light dinner will be served at 6pm.
Dr. Williamson's presentation will address:
- The purpose of neuropsychological testing for pediatric cancer patients
- What parents can expect to learn about their child's functioning
- Helpful approaches for parents to deal with concerns related to their child's cognitive function
Cognitive Abilities in Cancer Patients
Cancer and its treatment can affect the cognitive ability of children.
Cognitive problems typically influence memory and thinking ability. Those children who have cognitive problems resulting from their disease or treatment may have difficulty with organizational tasks, reading or reading comprehension, remembering math facts and understanding concepts, slowed processing speed, and difficulty with visual memory that is necessary for decoding letters and numbers or reading music.
Potential Risk Factors for Cognitive Problems
Although not all of the childhood cancer survivors or those with hematological disease develop congnitive problems from their disease or treatment, there are some groups of children who are at higher risk for problems.
Children treated for cancers of the face or brain and spinal cord, those who receive radiation to the head or whole body and those who have brain surgery are among the potential candidates for cognitive problems. Those children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and treatments that involve intrathecal chemotherapy are at increased risk of learning difficulties.
It is also been shown that diagnosis at a very young age requiring intensive treatment and long hospitalizations and being female may increase risk.
Sickle Cell Disease and Cognitive Function
Sickle Cell disease also has the potential for detrimental effects on cognitive functioning in children.
Learning and other cognitive issues that occur in children with sickle cell disease are related to large and/or small blockages of blood flow in the brain depriving the tissue of oxygen. These blockages can result in a stroke that has immediate profound cognitive changes or an accumulation of smaller assaults that lead to deficits over time.
Neuropsychological Evaluation: What it Involves and Problems it Helps Identify
Neuropsychological evaluation involves a detailed medical and treatment history. Information about developmental, learning, behavioral and social history is obtained. The results from hearing and vision evaluation and any neurological exams and imaging are reviewed.
The actual testing involves a number of evaluations about how the brain works in the area of memory, speed, language, visual processing, auditory processing, integration of information, behavioral and emotional responses and the ability to plan and organize.
Following testing parents and their child will receive information about current functioning and functioning over time when the tests are done in sequence. If there are problems identified there may be recommendations for modifications in teaching and further treatments. Consideration for medications, further testing of speech and language, counseling, and special school programs may be made.
Who Can Benefit From Neuropsychological Evaluation
Any child who is having difficulty in school or who is at a high risk for these problems may benefit from having neuropsychological testing. These tests are administered by a neuropsychologist who is a licensed psychologist with special training is evaluating the functioning of the brain. Pediatric neuropsychologists are additionally trained to recognize these issues in the light of the changing and developing brain of a child.
