Developmental histories
1. Prenatal and perinatal conditions: problems and/or unusual conditions associated with pregnancy and/or birth.
2. Developmental milestones: ages at which the child walked, was toilet-trained, talked, etc.
3. Physical development: severe illnesses, diseases, and/or accidents; unusual eating habits, sleep patterns, or other behaviors; general activity level.
4. Social development: relationships with peers; indications of emotional tension or stress; effective discipline methods and child's reaction to discipline.
5. General health: overall physical condition; special health conditions requiring medication; asthma, allergies, diabetes, heart condition.
6. Family history: number and age of siblings; divorce and remarriage issues; health or education,; problems experienced by parents or siblings; mental health problems of relatives.
Neurological and neuropsychological assessment
A lot of unusual and bizarre behaviors are said to have neurological bases which is why neurological assessment is a very important aspect of the biophysical evaluations. Most that have neurological effects are repetitive speech and mannerisms, abnormal motor function, and overreaction to sensory stimuli such as loud noises or flickering lights. However, these assessments are not a regular routine when it comes to identifying children who have emotional/behavioral disorders. A doctor will first try a simple test you may have been asked to do yourself; touching your nose and identifying the number being traced in the palm of your hand is a way to test mental and neurological alertness. If these tests show problems, the doctor may choose to do an electroencephalogram (EEG). The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery is used with three different versions for three different age levels (5–8 years, 9–14 years, and 15-adult). This test is the most used when it comes to identifying children with brain injuries. Another common test used is the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery - Children's Revision created by Alexander Luria. Two more recent tests are Dean-Woodcock Neuropsychological Assessment System and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities.