Testing cognitive functions in children: A clinical perspective

Neuropsychological evaluation aims at describing a child’s weaknesses and strengths to set an appropriate rehabilitation and education programme, as well as to better educate the school and family about the child’s needs. This chapter presents the most commonly used neuropsychological tests, as well as their limits and caveats in the understanding of the cognitive profile of children. It looks at selected cognitive and intelligence tests used in neuropsychological practice, including WWPSI-IV, K-ABC and NEPSY. It also looks at specific tests for attention, memory, visual and spatial cognition, visuo-motor co‑ordination and executive functions. The chapter ends with a discussion about intra- and inter-variability during neuropsychological evaluation and dissociation within an intelligence test; intelligence, neuropsychological assessment and learning abilities; and sources of performance differences between children and robots.