When your child is bright, but something isn’t adding up at school.
You’ve tried to get answers.
But things still don’t fully make sense.
A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation can help understand:
Why reading, writing, or math feels harder than it should
Why homework takes so long
Why your child may be underperforming despite strong ability
What is actually driving the struggle
Dr. Courtney Duhning, Psy.D., ABSNP, NCSP
Board-Certified Pediatric Neuropsychologist
Serving families across Long Island
This is one of the most common reasons families reach out.
Many children who need support are not failing.
They are Coping. Compensating. Overworking.
Holding it together at school and falling apart at home.
A child can “look fine” on paper, while still significantly struggling beneath the surface.
Good grades do not always mean everything is okay.
Does This Sound Familiar?
“I know my child is smart, but school shouldn’t be this hard”
“Homework takes forever and ends in meltdowns.”
“They understand it when we talk about it, but can’t show it on paper.”
“I’m tired of being told to just wait and see.”
“I don’t know if this is ADHD, anxiety, or a learning disability.”
“They get AIS reading but not making progress.”
If this feels familiar, you are not overreacting.
There may be a reason things feel harder than they should.
The right intervention starts with the right understanding.
Too often, children receive support before anyone has clearly identified what type of support they actually need.
A child can receive tutoring, accommodations, or intervention and still continue to struggle if the underlying issue has not been fully understood.
When concerns like dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, executive functioning, or processing weaknesses are misunderstood, even well-intentioned support can not be the most effective.
“Wait and see” is not always a neutral plan.
When a child is already struggling, prolonged uncertainty can affect far more than academics.
It can impact: confidence, motivation, anxiety, school performance, social life, family stress, and how a child begins to see themselves
The earlier the underlying issue is understood, the sooner the right support can begin.
What an Evaluation Can Clarify
I frequently work with children and adolescents who are experiencing concerns related to:
• ADHD and attention difficulties
• Dyslexia and reading challenges
• Writing or math learning disabilities
• Executive functioning weaknesses
• Anxiety interfering with academic performance
• Gifted students whose abilities are not reflected in grades
A comprehensive evaluation can help explain why your child is struggling and what support is likely to be most effective.
Families searching for neuropsychological evaluations on Long Island for ADHD, processing, memory, dyslexia, or learning disabilities are welcome to schedule a free phone consultation.
Why Families Choose Duhning Psychological Services
1. Answers that go beyond test scores
Your child is more than a list of scores. A comprehensive evaluation helps explain how your child learns, where they are getting stuck, and what may be driving the struggle — whether that involves reading, writing, math, attention, executive functioning, anxiety, or something more complex.
2. Clarity when things still do not add up
Sometimes a child seems bright, capable, and even “fine on paper” — but daily life tells a different story. When things still do not fully make sense, the goal is to provide clear, meaningful diagnostic understanding so you are not left guessing.
3. Recommendations that actually help
Families need more than a report — they need a plan. A comprehensive evaluation provides specific, individualized recommendations for school, home, and intervention planning so you know what to do next.
4. A more individualized and thoughtful process
This is not a rushed or one-size-fits-all experience. Every evaluation is designed to look carefully at your child’s unique profile, so the final picture reflects the whole child — not just isolated test results.
You will walk away with:
Clear answers
A diagnosis (if appropriate)
Specific recommendations
A plan you can actually usefor school supports (IEP or 504 when appropriate)
You leave with understanding, not uncertainty.
What Changes After an Evaluation
You finally understand why your child is struggling
You know what support actually helps
You can advocate clearly with the school
You feel confident in next steps
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
A consultation can help you:
talk through your concerns
ask questions about the process
determine whether a neuropsychological evaluation would be helpful for your child
decide whether this feels like the right fit
Not Sure If This Is the Right Next Step?
There is no pressure to commit before you feel ready.
Specialized Therapy Services
In addition to neuropsychological evaluations, Dr. Duhning also provides specialized, evidence-based therapy for:
OCD Treatment (ERP)
Evidence-based therapy to reduce compulsions and decrease anxiety about irrational thoughts
Emetophobia Treatment
Specialized exposure-based therapy for fear of vomiting