Assessment

Children who have experienced any of the following may present with cognitive, behavioural, and social-emotional difficulties.

• Traumatic brain injury 
• Epilepsy 
• Neurotoxicity (e.g., exposure to toxic chemicals such as lead paint) 
• Hypoxia (e.g., lack of oxygen to the brain) 
• Prematurity and/or birth complications 
• Learning problems (e.g., reading or spelling difficulties) 
• Childhood developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD) 
• Emotional difficulties (e.g. depression, anxiety) 
• Substance abuse 
• Complex trauma (e.g., abuse, neglect)  

Different conditions result in specific patterns of strengths and difficulties. These profiles of abilities can help identify any disorders and the brain areas involved. For example, an assessment of a young person with a suspected learning disorder may identify if he or she has a low capacity for learning (such as intellectual disability), a specific cognitive barrier to learning (such as difficulties with attention or memory), or an emotional issue (such as depression) that may be impacting on their ability to learn.