Evaluations
Learning & Developmental
Individualized evaluations of learning and development are our specialty. Wherever you are in your journey of learning and personal growth, an evaluation at Individual Matters will deliver unique perspectives, diagnostic clarification, and treatment planning recommendations to help support your success.
Specialties
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Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
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ADHD and executive functioning
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Giftedness and twice-exceptional (2e) students
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Autism spectrum disorder
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Intellectual, academic, social-emotional, and developmental concerns
What Sets Dr. Katen's Evaluations Apart
With nearly two decades’ experience in neuropsychological evaluation, learning, and child development, Dr. Katen's approach is a bit different than most clinical or medical practices. While many clinicians and psychologists treat mental health concerns, Dr. Katen specializes in comprehensive learning and developmental evaluations.
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Dr. Katen believes every person is as unique as their fingerprints - with their own distinctive styles of learning and perceiving.
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Testing is personally conducted from start to finish by Dr. Katen (no technicians).
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Using gold-standard neuropsychological measures, each evaluation is tailored to reveal the whole person—strengths, challenges, and everything in between.
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Clients are welcomed into an inviting, non-clinical experience: a supportive environment where individuals can express themselves comfortably.
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An in-depth feedback session delivers clear, detailed results, practical recommendations, and guidance for home, school, college, or workplace success.
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Comprehensive reports include data & findings, clinical observations, diagnoses, professional referrals, and recommendations for supporting learning, success, and well-being.
Dr. Katen believes that every client matters, and every evaluation is an opportunity to shape a brighter future.
Frequent Questions
What is a "neurodevelopmental" evaluation? Neurodevelopment is a term that means how the brain grows and builds connections that help you think, learn, remember, pay attention, read, and get along with others. Basically, every time you learn something new, your brain is developing! Some individuals have neurodevelopmental disorders, which means their brain develops differently and can make learning or daily activities harder. Examples include ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disability, behavior challenges, and problems with vision or hearing. A neurodevelopmental evaluation usually includes several types of tests to get a full picture of an individual's strengths and challenges. These include neuropsychological tests that look at thinking, memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, questionnaires for parents and teachers about behavior and learning, and gold standard measures that are widely used and trusted to give accurate information. Together, these tools help the psychologist understand how the child learns and what supports might help the most.
What is the First Step in the evaluation process? The first step in the evaluation process is to contact Individual Matters. Feel free to do this by phone, email, or by using our contact form. We’ll gather some initial information and talk to you about how the process works. The next step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Katen. During this 90-minute meeting, you (the parent) and your child (attendance is optional) can share your concerns, ideas, and goals for testing. Dr. Katen will listen, ask questions, and take notes. Feel free to bring copies of any previous testing, relevant medical records, and academic records. Dr. Katen will review these documents, explain how the evaluation process works, go over costs and scheduling, and design a test scope/price that fits your needs. When the consultation ends, you will know exactly what service you are getting and how much it will cost. If you are unsure whether you want or need an evaluation or are unclear about what type or scope is most appropriate, a consultation with Dr. Katen is an excellent first step. This meeting is designed to provide answers to your questions and offer you a “road map” of considerations, options, and resources. You will leave the consultation feeling more knowledgeable and confident to make the right decisions for your child. In addition, Dr. Katen can share insights and direction about how to apply for school-based or clinical services or accommodations. If your child has already been assessed elsewhere, Dr. Katen can review those reports and deliver clarification about scores, analyses, and diagnoses. From time to time (depending on the unique needs and situations of a family), an evaluation might not be the next best step; instead, another treatment or direction may take priority (such as counseling, medication management, or an occupational therapy or speech-language assessment). In these cases, Dr. Katen can help design a plan and connect you with appropriate providers.
How do I know what type of evaluation is needed? During your consultation with Dr. Katen, she works with you to design a evaluation scope that is most appropriate to your child's (or your) unique needs. Scope and cost will be determined prior to beginning the evaluation process.
Where can I read client testimonials? You may notice that we do not share client testimonials on this website. This choice is made to protect client privacy and keep personal experiences confidential. It is also an ethical decision, because asking for testimonials can create pressure in the therapy relationship and may make clients feel obligated to share private information, which goes against respect, choice, and trust. We invite you reach out to your doctor, therapist, teacher, and friends and family - inquire about their experiences to help you find the right person or place to support your needs and goals.
What is included in the evaluation process? Following the initial consultation, the evaluation process proceeds as follows: 1. Clinical Interview – Clinical and developmental history is gathered through a semi-structured interview. You, your child, or the entire family may take part in this process. 2. Test Administration – The number and length of sessions required to complete test administration depends on the type of evaluation and, most importantly, the needs of the client. Administration for neuropsychological learning evaluations is typically completed in two or three sessions, each of which may be 3-4 hours long. On the other hand, learning assessments for adults may entail only one session. 3. Analysis – Scoring, analysis, and report generation is completed over the next couple weeks. 4. Feedback – The evaluation process is concluded with a 90-minute feedback session, during which Dr. Katen provides an in-depth explanation of test measures, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 5. Report – Clients receive a comprehensive report that clearly outlines test measures, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Recommendations are specific and highly individualized evaluations.
Who completes the evaluation? Dr. Katen works closely with each client throughout the evaluation process – from consultation to feedback. She performs every assessment herself and does not utilize technicians or student interns.
How do I get my test results? Test results are provided at the feedback session with Dr. Katen in a comprehensive, hardcopy report and thorough explanation of findings. Electronic versions of reports are also available through our confidential client portal.
Are my results shared with anyone else? It is completely up to you whether, how, and with whom to share your child’s evaluation records. Individual Matters keeps client evaluation records confidential and secure. Ultimately, you are the owner of your child’s evaluation report. The only situations in which Individual Matters will release an evaluation record is 1) with a client's/guardian's written request, 2) when failing to do so could put someone else at severe risk, or 3) in response to a court order. Importantly, if you utilize insurance to pay for your evaluation, the insurance company has the right to view the report, and the resultant diagnosis becomes part of your child’s permanent medical record. On the other hand, if you choose to self-pay for your child’s evaluation, no one but you have access to the report, records, or diagnoses.
What if I still have questions after the feedback? Additional or ongoing consultation with Dr. Katen is available at your request (with additional fee).
What should we bring to the test session? We encourage you to bring snacks and a drink. We also recommend that children bring a favorite toy, photos, or other comfort items (Yes, “Mr. Wiggles,” your child’s snuggle buddy, is absolutely welcome!)
What should I tell my child about testing? We feel it is important that you use your own judgment when deciding how and what to tell your child about the evaluation. Helpful approaches can be discussed at the initial consultation.
What if the school says my child is “fine,” but I feel like they are struggling? If you believe your child is struggling, they probably are. In any case, you don’t need the school’s recommendation to pursue a private evaluation. Even when you are told your child is “fine,” you should probably trust your parent intuition.
What are some reasons a parent may seek a private evaluation? If you have any questions about your child’s learning or development, or you are seeking to better understand their unique patterns of strengths and struggles, a private evaluation is a good option.
Why are Dr. Katen's evaluations so individualized? She believes that every child is as unique as their fingerprints. There is no “one size fits all” approach to understanding a child’s gifts, interests, joys, and struggles. A well-done evaluation should be tailored to the specific needs of the child and their family.
Does Dr. Katen attend school IEP meetings? Yes. Following an evaluation, Dr. Katen will attend an IEP meeting.
Are evaluations covered by insurance? All services at Individual Matters are private pay only. While we cannot accept or bill insurance, we are happy to provide you with a detailed invoice (“super bill”) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Typically, health insurance will NOT pay for learning evaluations, as these are considered “educational” rather than “medical” services. However, there are some clinical and mental health diagnoses (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, and depression) that may be covered by insurance. You can check with your insurance company about whether they may cover some of the costs of an evaluation. Please note that we are not in-network with Medicaid, and Medicaid does not allow members to see out-of-network providers. If you have Medicaid, please contact your plan to find in-network providers.
What are the pros/cons of private pay vs. insurance? When it comes to paying for testing, there are advantages to both insurance and “private-pay.” Depending on your insurance plan and referral need, insurance may (but does not always) reduce the cost burden of an evaluation. Importantly, insurance does not typically pay for academic testing. Also, since insurance is part of the medical model, a client must be diagnosed with a mental health condition. Insurance companies also retain the right to view evaluation reports and resultant diagnoses become part of the child’s medical record. While self-pay evaluations can at first seem to be a more “expensive” option, in the end, many clients spend less (due to deductibles, refusals to cover “authorized” services, and other hidden costs of insurance). The self-pay option also lets you to pick your provider, allows the psychologist determine appropriate scope of care, and takes a comprehensive approach to understanding your child unique profile. Self-pay allows more privacy and avoids “hidden costs” or “surprise bills” associated with insurance. To learn more, check out our blog post: Insurance vs. Self Pay
How much does an evaluation cost? Please view our fees page.