deficit or impairment of the child’s ability to effectively use higher mental functions, such as memory, attention, thinking, planning, language, sensory and cognitive perception, as well as motor regulation. This impairment can be partial, affecting a specific aspect of psychological functioning, or complex, encompassing most of the child’s cognitive and emotional abilities. In some cases, it can be temporary, caused by brain injury or environmental stressors, or permanent in the case of neurological or genetic diseases. This impairment poses a serious problem to the child’s ability to learn, adapt to society, control emotions and solve everyday problems, since higher mental functions form the basis for regulating behavior and interaction with the environment. Therefore, the identification of impairments requires a thorough and comprehensive assessment, including direct observation, neuropsychological testing and analysis of functional capabilities in an educational and social context. The aim of this assessment is to develop therapeutic and educational intervention programmes aimed at supporting the child’s development and increasing his or her capacity for integrated learning and adaptation.