Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment

09/19/2025

Helping your child talk about their learning disability can be challenging, but it’s an important skill for their self-advocacy and confidence.

09/14/2025

Our team enjoyed our day of networking with the .ga at the Atlanta Botanical Garden!

09/09/2025

09/04/2025

🧡💙 Family Autism Support Group - Marietta, GA

Join Dr Jaffe and Dr. Lang on Sept 18th at First Presbyterian Church Marietta for a discussion about IEPs & psychoeducational evaluations

🕰️ 7:00-8:30 PM | Room 51
📍 189 Church St, Marietta, GA 30064

Hosted by experienced autism moms Janet & Bethel. All families of individuals on the autism spectrum welcome!

08/30/2025

This masterclass will include a detailed review of the application process for Supplemental Security Income. We will review all the steps necessary for a successful application, including a review of the criteria to establish a medical determination of disability. We will also cover all the steps you need to take to prepare to file, including a means-testing review to ensure financial eligibility, followed by a review of the Social Security Blue Book to identify criteria for a medical determination of disability. We will walk through the Adult Disability Report to provide a framework of the required information and then review how to complete the SSI application online. We will guide you through the next steps following application submission.

Topics covered will include:

A detailed review of the SSI application process
Steps to prepare before filing, including a means-testing review
Review of the Social Security blue book for medical eligibility criteria
Walkthrough of the Adult Disability Report to understand required information
Guidance on how to complete the SSI application online
Next steps to take after submitting your application

This masterclass will include a detailed review of the application process for Supplemental Security Income.

08/22/2025

TRS Parent Resource Meeting is coming up on Monday, August 25! Parent Mentors & Transition Resource Specialists from CCSD & City of Marietta will be here to answer that question! Hope to see you there!

08/08/2025

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08/04/2025

GSU Research Project Alert for Georgia Students Grades 1-3!

Project SPELL (Supporting Parents to Enhance Language and Literacy) is a 12-week home-based study where parents are trained to deliver a simple, evidence-based spelling program at home for Georgia students in grades 1-3.

The goal is to better understand how we can empower families to support literacy development, especially for students who haven’t responded to typical instruction. GSU researchers provide all materials (shipped directly to families), professional learning, and support throughout the study. Participating families also receive a $600 stipend.

If you are interested in participating, please register for the informational Zoom session on 8/7 at 7 PM using tinyurl.com/SPELL2025

08/03/2025

Excellent article that every parent with a struggling student needs to read! ‼️⭐

Warning Signs Your Child May Have an Undiagnosed Language Disorder

• **Grades don't tell the whole story** - If your child earns decent grades but requires heavy parent support for homework, struggles with essays, or can't follow multi-step directions independently, there may be underlying language issues

• **"Smart but struggling" is a red flag** - Children with average or above-average IQ scores can still have significant language disorders that affect learning. Don't let anyone dismiss concerns because your child "seems smart"

• **Social skills can mask academic language problems** - A child who chats normally may still struggle with the complex language needed for school tasks like summarizing, explaining processes, or understanding figurative language

Common Misdiagnoses to Watch For

• **ADHD over-diagnosis** - Behaviors like "zoning out," not following directions, or appearing inattentive may actually stem from language processing difficulties, not attention problems

• **Behavioral issues may be communication breakdowns** - Children labeled as "oppositional" or "disruptive" may be struggling to understand social cues, express their needs, or navigate conversations appropriately

• **Generic reading programs miss the mark** - Programs like Orton-Gillingham or Wilson are often recommended by default, but they only help with decoding. If your child's issue is comprehension, fluency, or oral language, these programs won't address the real problem

What to Look For in Evaluations

• **Demand comprehensive language testing** - Basic vocabulary tests aren't enough. Insist on assessments that examine how your child uses language in real academic contexts, including discourse, narrative skills, and pragmatic language

• **Question composite scores** - If there are large gaps between different subtests (like scoring at the 84th percentile on one task and 9th percentile on another), don't accept an "average" composite score as proof everything is fine

• **Ensure SLP involvement** - Speech-language pathologists should be part of the evaluation team from the beginning, not brought in as an afterthought

Red Flags in School Reports

• **Vague language observations** - Statements like "speaks in full sentences" or "language appears age-appropriate" based on casual conversation are insufficient for ruling out language disorders

• **Over-reliance on standardized achievement tests** - Tests like the WJ-V and WIAT-4 don't capture how children use language in real classroom situations

• **Waiting for a "discrepancy"** - Schools that require a large gap between IQ and achievement before providing services are using an outdated, harmful model

What Parents Can Do

• **Document specific struggles** - Keep detailed notes about homework difficulties, comprehension issues, and social communication challenges

• **Request specific assessments** - Ask for tests like the TILLS (Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills) that examine academic language use

• **Seek interdisciplinary evaluations** - Ensure psychologists, neuropsychologists, and speech-language pathologists work together, not in isolation

• **Don't accept surface-level explanations** - If your child is struggling despite support, push for deeper investigation into language processing abilities

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializing in language and literacy assessment, I’ve reviewed hundreds of educational, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological evaluations for students with complex learning needs. I repeatedly see students who are clearly struggling in the classroom, des...