Psychological and neuropsychological issues in the care of children with disabilities

Pediatric specialists are faced with many challenges when confronted with young patients diagnosed with acquired or congenital disabilities. In addition to the myriad of presenting medical issues, team members also need to acknowledge and address contributing psychological, social and environmental factors when working with medically involved children. Specifically, the understanding of developmental, cognitive, familial, and emotional considerations is essential for tailoring more successful individual treatment plans. The purpose of this article is to address the multidimensional aspects associated with the treatment of children presenting with physical or neurological impairments. Specifically, psychological and neuropsychological perspectives will be discussed and case examples will be presented in an effort to propose a comprehensive approach for the promotion of better outcomes in pediatric patient care.