— FELDER PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES —
Learning Disabilities Evaluations in New Jersey
Helping children, teens, and young adults understand how they learn, process information, and build on their strengths through comprehensive assessment.
Understanding Learning Differences
Learning difficulties can affect reading, writing, math, and the everyday demands of school and work, often taking far more effort than they should. If you're wondering whether a learning difference may be part of the picture for yourself or your child, a comprehensive evaluation can help provide answers.
Every evaluation I conduct is comprehensive and individualized. My goal is not only to determine whether a learning difference is present, but to understand the broader pattern of strengths and challenges behind it, and what supports are likely to help most.
The areas assessed depend on the referral concerns and questions being asked. These may include reading, writing, and math skills, language, attention and executive functioning, learning and memory, cognitive functioning, and social and emotional functioning. Rather than relying on a standard battery, I select the measures that will be most meaningful for each individual.
By the end of the evaluation, you'll have a clearer understanding of what is contributing to the concerns, how your or your child's unique strengths and challenges fit together, and what recommendations may be most helpful moving forward.
What Is a Learning Disabilities Evaluation?
A learning disabilities evaluation looks closely at how a person reads, writes, processes language, and works with math. It can identify dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other learning profiles, including Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), that may affect learning and academic performance. Challenges with reading, writing, or math do not always point to a learning disability. Difficulties with attention, language, anxiety, or other factors can sometimes look very similar, which is why a comprehensive evaluation looks at the broader picture.
What Sets Us Apart
No two people with a learning disability present in exactly the same way. I approach every evaluation with that in mind, tailoring each evaluation to the referral questions and taking the time to understand the broader pattern of strengths and challenges. That deeper understanding allows recommendations to be specific, practical, and meaningful.
Every individual brings a different history, pattern of strengths, and set of concerns to the evaluation. Some have struggled with reading since early elementary school, while others have always wondered why writing or math feels so much harder than expected. Considering those experiences alongside the testing results provides important context for understanding the overall picture.
My reports are written to be used. They explain the findings in clear, accessible language and provide practical recommendations that families, schools, colleges, and other professionals can apply with confidence.
Benefits of a Learning Disabilities Evaluation
Clear Answers
Clear answers about whether dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or another learning disability is present.
Support Educational Planning
A thorough written report that schools, colleges, and families can understand and use.
Targeted Recommendations
Specific guidance that helps families and schools understand how to support learning needs effectively.
How a Learning Disabilities Evaluation Works
01
Virtual Intake
An initial meeting to gather a comprehensive history and discuss your current concerns.
02
Evaluation Sessions
The evaluation is completed over several in-person appointments. The specific areas assessed and measures included are tailored to the referral questions and concerns.
03
Feedback & Report
We meet virtually to go through results. You receive a written report with findings and specific recommendations.
How a Learning Disabilities Evaluation Helps
When you understand why learning has been difficult, it often changes the way those challenges are addressed. That clarity helps you make more informed decisions about supports, strategies, and accommodations.
What Often Changes:
- Reading, writing, or math becomes more manageable with appropriate support.
- Learning strategies are better matched to the way you or your child learns.
- Support from teachers, tutors, and other professionals becomes more targeted.
- Greater confidence in choosing effective next steps.
Ready to Understand Your Learning Profile?
Whether you are seeking answers for yourself, your teen, or your child, a comprehensive evaluation can provide insight and direction.
A Clear Picture and a Plan
Many families and individuals work hard to address learning challenges without fully understanding why certain difficulties persist. Tutoring, accommodations, and other interventions may help, but without a clear understanding of the reasons behind those challenges, it can be difficult to know which supports are the best fit.
What an Evaluation Can Offer:
- A profile of strengths and needs for school or college.
- Strategies that fit the way you or your child learns.
- Documentation that can support accommodations when appropriate.
- A clear roadmap for next steps.
FAQs About Learning Disabilities Evaluations
When does it make sense to consider an evaluation for learning differences?
It can be helpful to consider an evaluation when reading, writing, math, or keeping up at school or work is consistently harder than expected, and it is not clear why. Families often reach out when the effort a child is putting in does not match their results, when earlier support has not made enough of a difference, or when they simply want a clearer understanding of how their child learns. Adults sometimes seek an evaluation when they have worked twice as hard for years and want to finally understand why.
How is a private evaluation different from a school evaluation?
A school evaluation is designed to determine whether a student qualifies for services within that school system, and it focuses on educational eligibility. A private evaluation is broader and more comprehensive. It looks closely at the full picture of how a person learns, thinks, and processes information, and it results in a detailed written report with individualized recommendations that can be used across settings, including at home, at school, at college, and with other providers. The two can complement each other, and a private evaluation often provides a deeper level of understanding than an eligibility determination alone.
Can bright kids have learning disabilities?
Yes. Bright, capable children can absolutely have learning disabilities, and their strengths often mask their struggles. A child may work extremely hard to keep up, use their intelligence to compensate, and still find certain tasks far more difficult than they should be. This is sometimes referred to as being twice-exceptional. An evaluation can help distinguish genuine strengths from areas of difficulty, so that both can be understood and supported.
Can adults be evaluated for learning disabilities?
Yes. Learning differences do not disappear in adulthood, and many adults were never evaluated when they were younger. Some pursue an evaluation to understand challenges they have managed around for years, and others need documentation to request accommodations for college, graduate school, or professional exams. An evaluation can provide both a clearer understanding and, when appropriate, the documentation needed to support an accommodations request.
Stop Guessing About Learning Struggles
If you are wondering whether a learning disabilities evaluation is the right step for you or your child, reaching out is a good place to start. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your concerns, answer any questions, and determine whether my services are the right fit.