Cognitive Assessments

A Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment (NEPSY-II)

What is the NEPSY-II?

The Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY-II) is a comprehensive assessment that measures the neurocognitive development of children and adolescents ranging from 3 to 16 years of age. It is designed to assess its domains of attention and executive functioning, language, memory and learning, sensorimotor functioning, social perception, and visuospatial processing.

This assessment is especially useful for understanding challenges related to attention, memory, learning, language, sensorimotor skills, social perception, and visuospatial processing.

What the NEPSY-II Measures

The current NEPSY-II includes 7 subtests:

  • Animal Sorting, Inhibition

  • Word Generation

  • Memory for Design

  • Fingertip Tapping

  • Design Copying, Picture Puzzles

These areas work together to support everyday functioning at home and in school. Understanding how a child performs in each area helps clarify the root of learning or behavioural challenges.

Suitable For:

Children and adults ranging from 3 to 16 years of age.

Duration of Assessment:

Takes around 45 minutes to 3 hours to complete the test.

Types of NEPSY-II Assessments

There are 3 versions of NEPSY-II that ranges from a basic assessment of a child’s neurological condition to a full neuropsychological assessment:

Ψ General Assessment

  • A broad overview of neurocognitive functioning

  • Preschool ages (3- to 4-years-old) – 45 minutes

  • School ages (5- to 16-years-old) – 1 hour

Ψ Diagnostic & Selective Assessment

  • Targeted subtests chosen according to specific concerns

  • Ideal when a child shows difficulty in a particular area such as language, attention, or memory.

Ψ Full Assessment

  • A detailed neuropsychological profile

  • Preschool ages (3- to 4-years-old) – 90 minutes

  • School ages (5- to 16-years-old) – 2 to 3 hours

The number of subtests administered varies according to the needs of each child.

A Closer Look: How the NEPSY-II Helps

The NEPSY-II is commonly combined with behavioural observations from home and school domains.

It is effective in helping to clarify the nature of a child’s problems as it can identify the lack of a specific neurocognitive development. For instance, if a child tends to struggle with Mathematics at school, the NEPSY-II can help to identify if these difficulties are due to a deficit in memory and learning, language, or attention and executive functioning. 

This information is also beneficial as it offers a foundation for the child psychologist to facilitate recommendations for mental health interventions. In other words, it aids the child psychologist in implementing appropriate intervention strategies tailored to each child’s specific needs for success in school and at home.

As the NEPSY-II covers a wide range of neuropsychological assessments at a young age, it can be used as part of early childhood assessment or psychoeducational evaluations.