Extended Time & Academic Accommodation Evaluations

For SAT, ACT, MCAT School Accommodations & Academic Planning

Comprehensive evaluations for students whose academic performance may not fully reflect their true abilities under standard testing conditions.

This is often when families begin asking questions.

A student may be:

  • highly intelligent

  • knowledgeable about the material

  • capable in discussion and class participation

…but still struggling with:

  • timed tests

  • written output

  • processing efficiency

  • sustaining attention over longer tasks

  • completing work within expected timeframes

Parents often describe students who:

  • know the material but cannot finish tests in time

  • require significantly longer for homework than peers

  • become mentally exhausted by academic demands

  • perform inconsistently despite strong effort

As academic expectations increase in middle school, high school, and standardized testing environments, these difficulties often become more noticeable.

Understanding the β€œwhy” behind academic difficulties is so important

An accommodation evaluation helps identify whether underlying factors may be impacting academic efficiency or test performance.

  • This may include evaluation of:

    • attention and executive functioning

    • processing speed

    • reading fluency

    • written expression

    • learning differences

    • working memory

    • cognitive fatigue and efficiency

    The goal is not simply to obtain accommodations.

The goal is to understand why a student may not be able to demonstrate knowledge effectively under standard academic conditions.

Families often seek accommodation evaluations for:

Extended Time Testing

Students who:

  • work accurately but slowly

  • require additional processing time

  • struggle completing exams within standard limits

SAT & ACT Accommodations

This may include:

  • extended time

  • separate setting

  • breaks

  • assistive technology recommendations

High School & Middle School Accommodations

Recommendations related to:

  • 504 Plans

  • classroom accommodations

  • academic support planning

  • executive functioning support

Transition Planning

As students move into:

  • middle school

  • high school

  • college-preparatory environments

Academic demands often increase significantly, making previously compensated difficulties more noticeable.

Accommodations are not about lowering expectations.

Accommodations are designed to provide students with fair access to demonstrate what they know.

Many students seeking accommodations are:

  • highly capable

  • hardworking

  • academically motivated

…but require substantially more effort, time, or cognitive energy to perform at the same level as peers.

A comprehensive evaluation helps clarify whether accommodations may be appropriate based on the student’s learning profile.

Accommodation needs may be associated with:

Explore Learning Disability Evaluations
Explore Neuropsychological Evaluations

The goal is not simply accommodations.

The goal is:

  • clarity

  • reduced frustration

  • improved academic access

  • greater confidence

  • understanding how a student learns most effectively

For many families, the process helps explain years of excessive effort, exhaustion, and inconsistent academic performance.

Dr. Duhning is a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist with specialized training in both clinical evaluation and the school system.

Her background as a practicing school psychologist β€” including experience with IEP and 504 processes β€” allows her to provide not just diagnostic clarity, but meaningful guidance on how to apply results in real-world settings.

Families often choose this practice when they are looking for:

  • a more precise and individualized understanding

  • clear explanations β€” not confusing reports

  • guidance they can actually use at home and in school

A young woman with blonde curly hair wearing a black sweater holding a pair of glasses and smiling at the camera against a plain light gray background.

Serving families from Long Island and Queens, NY

This practice provides comprehensive dyslexia evaluations for children and teens across Long Island, including Nassau and Suffolk County, as well as Queens

Families often travel from areas such as: Syosset, Manhasset, Great Neck, Roslyn, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Glen Cove, Garden City, Dix Hills, Commack, Smithtown, and surrounding communities.

When a student is capable but consistently struggling under academic demands, it’s worth understanding why.