Pediatric neuropsychological assessment in Southeast Asia: Current status and future directions with Vietnam as a scoping review case example

OBJECTIVE: There is a concerning lack of systematic understanding regarding the availability and validity of neuropsychological assessment tools for children in Southeast Asia. This issue is further complicated by the unclear landscape for test development, adaptations, and translations in these countries. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we offer insights into the broader practice of pediatric neuropsychology within Southeast Asia communities based on their current medical infrastructural standings. Then, we provide a specific case study by examining the current status of pediatric neuropsychology for Vietnamese children.

METHOD: A brief overview of the status of pediatric neuropsychology in Southeast Asia groups is provided, followed by a scoping review examining performance-based and objective rating inventories for the Vietnamese pediatric population.

RESULTS: 42 studies were included in the Vietnamese review spanning several cognitive and socioemotional domains. Adaptation and translation protocols were significantly variable. Figures and tables summarizing the identified questionnaires and test measures are included.

CONCLUSIONS: Vietnam, with its moderately developed medical infrastructure and shared cultural, economic, and sociopolitical traits with other Southeast Asian countries, provides a compelling case study for the growth, challenges, and gaps in neuropsychology. While the field continues to develop in this country, ongoing opportunities and the need for guidelines on test development and adaptation are critically needed to advance the field further. Implications for more and less developed Southeast Asia countries are provided based on our scoping review.