Your Child’s Brain Imaging Explained
Brain imaging (neuroimaging) can be an incredibly helpful part of a neuropsychological evaluation, regardless of how long ago it was obtained and how small the findings. Even a small abnormality can help explain neurodevelopmental concerns, and normal findings are also helpful. Brain MRI or a head CT are the most common types of neuroimaging.
Here are two broad categories for which brain imaging might be collected:
New or sudden symptoms
Neuroimaging is commonly part of the medical work-up when a child shows sudden or increasing symptoms (e.g., changes in speech or motor functioning, seizures, etc) that could require immediate medical intervention. This can include symptoms following a concussion/head injury, stroke, complicated medical course, and other causes. A neurosurgeon might be consulted as well. In these cases, neuroimaging shows a snapshot of the brain during this early phase of an injury or disease.
Once a child becomes medically stable, they are often referred for a neuropsychological evaluation. Sometimes lingering symptoms may need to be considered (e.g., fatigue, vision changes, motor weakness).
Risk of possible brain abnormalities
Neuroimaging might be ordered when there are “risks” that suggest the “possibility” of abnormal brain health, including a medical condition or significant developmental delays.
For example, while a newborn or infant might not present with any medical symptoms and doesn’t yet show developmental delays, a complicated birth, prematurity, birth defect, genetic disorder, or respiratory/cardiac failure may warrant brain imaging.
Other times, the child does not have a known medical condition, but developmental delays are significant, and the family wants guidance for how to support their child. The pediatrician or neurologist might obtain neuroimaging to explore whether there are any structural differences in how the brain developed.
When findings are abnormal, a child is often referred for a neuropsychological evaluation.
Neuroimaging without neuropsychological testing does not readily explain or predict the child’s specific abilities.
Neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing work well together!
Abnormal findings from a brain MRI or head CT can help the neuropsychologist figure out which testing measures will be helpful during the neuropsychological evaluation. And when neuropsychological testing shows delays or deficits in a child’s abilities, neuroimaging can help explain the reasons why.
The results from the neuroimaging report are hard for parents to remember or understand!
Parents are often given a simple summary of neuroimaging, such as… Your child’s MRI shows “stable or unchanged findings”, “only a small spot”, “no concerns”, and so on. This simple summary might include just the right amount of information from the perspective of the medical team when your child is medically stable and no intervention is needed.
Other times, the results are explained using technical jargon that makes little sense to families, such as… Your child’s MRI shows “periventricular leukomalacia or PVL”, “a benign cyst”, “frontal lobe contusion”, “multifocal ischemic stroke”, “gliosis”, “volume loss”, “agenesis of the corpus callosum”, and so on. In these cases, families are left to research on their own, and this leads to more questions.
When parents are told the neuroimaging results while under great stress (e.g., hospital), it’s very difficult for them to remember.
If your child has ever had an abnormal MRI or head CT, your child should also complete a neuropsychological evaluation. Why?
- The neuropsychologist has the expertise to explain the brain imaging to you in real life terms that make sense. They will likely use a brain model and pictures. This is their expertise!
- The neuropsychologist will explain how your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses from the neuropsychological evaluation relate to neuroimaging.
- The neuropsychologist will provide recommendations tailored to your child, and help you work with the school. You’ll learn how to focus your resources and time.
- The neuropsychologist can also tell you what to watch in later stages of development. With repeated neuropsychological testing at critical stages of development, you will see your child’s unique progress and how to adjust supports along the way.
If you believe your child would benefit from a neuropsychological evaluation, learn more about the Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center here: https://pedneurocenter.com/neuropsychological-evaluation/
Also learn how to find a qualified neuropsychologist near you:
https://pedneurocenter.com/how-to-find-a-qualified-neuropsychologist/
Feel free to reach out to the Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center for a free phone consultation: [email protected]
