The person on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Craniofacial team who can help check your child’s cognitive (mental) growth is the neuropsychologist. While not all children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate have cognitive problems, some do experience developmental delays and learning problems.
Screenings and Evaluations
Your child may have a screening test to look for problems in mental, motor, social and behavioral growth. Screenings may begin when your child is a baby and continue into the teen years.
If any problems are found, formal testing can be done to help find the type and extent of the problems. Tests can also point to ways to help your child do better in many areas.
The test may look at how well your child:
- Thinks through problems
- Pays attention and finishes tasks
- Learns and remembers information
- Listens to speech sounds, identifies objects and uses words to communicate
- Copies shapes and writes letters
- Reads, writes and does math
- Copes with emotions and makes friends
- Follows directions and controls behavior
- Works quickly and efficiently on tasks
Formal testing is key to learning about your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. It can also help your child do his best at home, at school and in the community.