About Dr. Courtney Duhning
Helping families understand why their child is struggling
Many parents come to me after months or years of wondering why their child is bright, capable, and hardworking, but still struggling in school.
Maybe homework takes hours. Maybe reading or writing feels harder than it should. Maybe your child knows the material but falls apart on tests. Or maybe you have been told that the scores are “average,” even though daily life tells a different story.
That gap is exactly why I do this work.
I saw the gaps firsthand
In my role as a school psychologist, I felt frustrated.
I saw many children earn average standardized test scores while still struggling significantly in the classroom. I also saw how school-based evaluations can be limited by time, eligibility rules, and the specific questions schools are required to answer.
I wanted to be able to go deeper.
My goal is to help families understand why their child is struggling and what will actually help.
For families comparing options, I often explain the difference between a school evaluation and a private neuropsychological evaluation.
Families often reach out when they are asking:
Why does homework take so long?
Why is reading still so hard, even with extra help?
Why does my child know the material but struggle on tests?
Why is writing so overwhelming?
Is this ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, executive functioning, or something else?
Why did the school say everything was average when my child is clearly struggling?
What supports, accommodations, or interventions does my child actually need?
These are the kinds of questions a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is meant to answer.
My approach is clear, thoughtful, and practical
I believe families deserve more than a list of scores.
A strong evaluation should explain your child in a way that feels accurate, useful, and human. I look closely at your child’s learning, attention, executive functioning, emotional functioning, processing speed, memory, language, reading, writing, math, and real-world school performance.
The goal is to connect the dots so the findings finally make sense.
For some children, the concern may involve dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD testing, anxiety, or executive functioning challenges. For others, the picture is more complicated, and families are looking for diagnostic clarity after years of mixed feedback.
After the evaluation, families walk away with:
A clear understanding of their child’s learning profile
Language to explain their child’s needs to teachers and providers
Specific recommendations for school supports and accommodations
Clarity around concerns such as ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or executive functioning challenges
A practical plan for what to do next
My background as a school psychologist helps me understand how schools make decisions.
I understand CSE and 504 meetings, school-based testing, eligibility decisions, and why some children fall through the cracks even when they are clearly struggling.
My training as a pediatric neuropsychologist allows me to look more deeply at the cognitive, academic, emotional, and executive functioning factors affecting your child.
Together, these perspectives help me create evaluations that are clinically meaningful, school-relevant, and practical for families.
This is especially important when families are seeking support for learning disabilities, extended time testing accommodations, ADHD, anxiety, or complex school-related concerns.
Most importantly, your child should feel better understood.
Many children have spent years believing they are lazy, careless, or not trying hard enough. When they understand how their brain works, it can reduce shame and help them build confidence.
For many families, the evaluation also helps clarify whether their child may benefit from a 504 Plan, an IEP, school-based intervention, tutoring, therapy, or other supports.
What it is like to work together
Reaching out for a private evaluation can feel like a big step.
You may be worried about the cost, unsure whether your child really needs a full evaluation, or nervous about what the results might show. You may also be tired of feeling like you have to prove that your child is struggling.
My role is to make the process feel clear and supportive.
We begin with a consultation to understand your concerns and determine whether a neuropsychological evaluation is the right next step. From there, I guide you through the intake, testing sessions, feedback meeting, and final report.
You will not be left trying to interpret confusing scores on your own.
Families who want to better understand the process can also read more about neuropsychological evaluations on Long Island and what to expect from a private-pay neuropsychological evaluation.
Choosing the right evaluation is an important decision.
If something feels off, it is okay to trust that instinct.
You do not need to wait until your child is failing to seek answers. Many children who need support are still earning decent grades, holding it together at school, or masking how hard they are working.
A neuropsychological evaluation can help clarify what is happening beneath the surface.