Clinical Area: Learning Disorders
Clinical Area: Learning Disorders
Identifying and Understanding Learning Differences
Learning disorders, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, are differences in the way the brain processes and uses information related to reading, written expression, and mathematics. They can occur in individuals with a wide range of intellectual abilities and are not a reflection of intelligence, motivation, or effort.
Many children with learning disorders work extremely hard to keep up. A student may spend hours on homework, practice repeatedly, or appear to understand material during instruction but continue to struggle when asked to read independently, write clearly, or complete math tasks. When the amount of effort does not match the outcome, it can be an important sign that a child’s learning profile needs to be understood more closely.
At Coherence, neuropsychological evaluation for learning disorders is provided by both Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP. Evaluation goes beyond identifying whether a learning disorder is present. It looks at the specific patterns of strengths and challenges that affect how a person learns, processes information, and demonstrates knowledge.
Understanding the underlying profile matters because learning difficulties do not look the same for every person. Two students may both struggle with reading, but one may have difficulty with phonological processing while another may be experiencing challenges related to attention, language, working memory, or another factor affecting learning.
A detailed evaluation helps clarify what is contributing to the difficulty and provides recommendations that can guide intervention, educational planning, and support strategies that fit the individual student.
Learning Disorder
Learning disorder evaluation at Coherence is designed to understand the full learning profile, not simply identify areas of difficulty. The evaluation process is tailored to the individual and examines the cognitive, academic, and processing skills that influence how a person learns and performs in everyday settings.
Assessment may include evaluation of overall cognitive abilities to understand strengths, areas of challenge, and whether there are meaningful differences between a person’s learning potential and academic performance. For reading concerns, evaluation often includes detailed assessment of skills related to phonological processing, which is an important area in understanding dyslexia and other reading-based difficulties.
Academic testing examines the specific skills involved in learning, including reading accuracy, reading fluency, reading comprehension, written expression, spelling, writing mechanics, composition, mathematics calculation, and mathematical reasoning. Looking at these areas individually helps clarify the specific pattern of strengths and challenges rather than treating academic difficulty as one general problem.
Additional areas such as working memory, processing speed, and language skills may also be assessed when clinically relevant. These abilities can significantly affect classroom performance, organization, and the ability to demonstrate knowledge, even when they do not meet criteria for a specific learning disorder.
The goal of evaluation is to bring all of this information together into a clear understanding of how the individual learns. Rather than focusing on isolated scores, Coherence integrates the full pattern of findings to explain what is happening and what types of support are most likely to help.
evaluation reports
What Changes After Identification
Following identification of a learning disorder at Coherence, families receive a feedback session in which evaluation findings are reviewed carefully and translated into practical recommendations. The goal is to help families understand not only what the evaluation shows, but what those findings mean for learning, intervention, and support moving forward.
Recommendations are individualized based on the specific learning profile. They may include evidence-based instructional approaches, strategies for building academic skills, and accommodations that help ensure the student has appropriate access to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities.
Accommodations for learning disorders are not about making expectations easier or providing an unfair advantage. They are supports designed to address a specific barrier so that a student’s performance more accurately reflects what they understand and can do. For some students, this may include tools such as extended time, assistive technology, reduced writing demands, or alternative ways of demonstrating knowledge when appropriate.
Coherence evaluation reports are written with practical implementation in mind. Recommendations are designed to be understandable and useful for families, educators, and school teams as they work together to support the student’s learning needs.
Please note that contacting this practice does not establish a patient provider relationship.
Learning Disorder Evaluation: Available from Both Clinicians
Neuropsychological evaluation for learning disorders at Coherence is provided by both Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP. Both clinicians bring extensive experience in evaluating learning, cognitive, and developmental profiles, with the specific evaluation approach determined by the individual’s needs, referral questions, and clinical presentation.
During the initial intake process, Coherence helps determine which clinician and evaluation pathway are the best fit. Factors such as the individual’s age, the concerns being evaluated, prior testing history, and the goals of the assessment all help guide that decision.
For families who have previously completed a learning disorder evaluation elsewhere and are seeking updated documentation, clarification of prior findings, re-evaluation, or a second opinion, Coherence provides independent assessment focused on understanding the individual’s current profile and needs.
Updated evaluation documentation may be especially important when students need support through settings such as colleges or disability services offices. Coherence reports are written to clearly communicate findings and recommendations so they can be useful to families, educational teams, and other professionals involved in supporting the individual.
Inquire About Learning Disorder Evaluation
Contact Coherence to learn more about learning disorder evaluation.