Toddlers – School AgeChildren Only
Pediatric Neuropsychological Testing
Some children's struggles don't fit a tidy label: attention that comes and goes, instructions that vanish between the kitchen and the backpack, skills that lag in one area and shine in another. Neuropsychological testing looks deeply at how your child's mind approaches thinking, learning, and behavior.
A deeper look, with honest boundaries.
Neuropsychological testing examines the brain's working systems — attention, memory, processing speed, language, visual-spatial skills, and executive functioning — and how they work together in your child. Where a standard evaluation asks “what is going on?”, neuropsychological testing also asks “how is this child's mind actually doing the work?” That extra layer matters most when earlier testing left questions open, when skills are strikingly uneven, or when struggles cut across school, home, and friendships.
A word about credentials, because it matters to us that families know exactly who they're working with. Dr. Brinkley is a licensed clinical psychologist, not a neuropsychologist. Her postdoctoral fellowship and the years that followed were spent at a specialty assessment practice, where she provided neuropsychological evaluations to children — independently and under the supervision of a leading neuropsychologist. That is the experience she brings to this work, and it is why we keep it within clear boundaries: children only, from toddlers through the school years, and developmental questions like ADHD, autism, learning differences, memory, and processing. Medical questions — brain injury, concussion, seizures — belong with a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist, and we will help you find the right one.
Built around your child's specific question
Intake & history
A thorough conversation about your child's development, school experience, and what you're seeing — plus review of any past testing, report cards, and IEP or 504 documents.
A tailored testing battery
Measures of attention, memory, executive functioning, processing speed, language, and visual-spatial skills, chosen for your child's age and the question at hand — never a one-size-fits-all packet.
A feedback session
A sit-down conversation walking through every finding — strengths first — and exactly what to do next.
A comprehensive report
A written report that explains how your child's mind works in plain language, with specific recommendations for home and school. It's yours to keep and share.
School & provider coordination
With your permission, we talk with teachers, pediatricians, and therapists so the people around your child work from the same picture.
A clear map of how your child thinks and learns, an honest explanation of what's hard and why, and recommendations specific enough to act on Monday morning.
Frequently asked questions
How is neuropsychological testing different from a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment centers on learning: academic skills, cognitive ability, and what school supports a child needs. Neuropsychological testing casts a wider net across the brain's systems — attention, memory, processing speed, language, visual-spatial skills, and executive functioning — and looks at how those systems work together. It is often the right choice when earlier testing answered some questions but left others open, or when a child's struggles cut across school, home, and friendships.
Is Dr. Brinkley a neuropsychologist?
No, and we want to be straightforward about that. Dr. Brinkley is a licensed clinical psychologist. During her postdoctoral fellowship and the years that followed at a specialty assessment practice, she provided neuropsychological evaluations to children both independently and under the supervision of a leading neuropsychologist. That training and experience is what she brings to this testing, and it is why her neuropsychological work stays within the developmental and school-related questions she knows deeply.
What ages do you provide neuropsychological testing for?
Children only — from the toddler years through school age. We do not offer neuropsychological testing for adults. If you are an adult seeking this testing, or your child's needs fall outside our scope, we will gladly point you toward a qualified neuropsychologist in the Richmond area.
What kinds of concerns is this testing right for?
Developmental and learning-related questions: attention and executive functioning, memory, slow processing, uneven skills, and the hard-to-name struggles that overlap with ADHD, autism, and learning differences. Medical questions — a brain injury, concussion recovery, or seizure-related changes — belong with a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist, and we will help you find one.
Do you serve families around Richmond, and what does it cost?
Yes. Families come to us from Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover, at our office at 5006 Monument Avenue (Suite B), Richmond, VA 23230. We go over fees at your free consultation, and our Insurance & Payment page explains how payment works. Call 804-205-7624 or email mbrinkley@brinkleypsychology.com to start.
Not sure where to begin?
Reach out for a brief, free consultation. We’ll talk through what’s going on and figure out the right next step together.