Literacy & Language Assessment

If you are concerned about your or your child's literacy and/or language skills, Drs. Katz and Pierson can help you.

Between the two of us, we have worked with countless numbers of children and adults of all ages and their families.

As professionally trained speech-language pathologists with additional expertise in reading and writing, we approach the assessment of language and literacy comprehensively and with careful attention to each individual client’s history, concerns, and objectives. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all type of assessment. We select and administer appropriate standardized as well as informal measures to best identify our clients' strengths and weaknesses, and we engage in thoughtful analysis and examination of all of the collected data in order to make accurate diagnoses and understand how to best help our clients.

          “I've had the opportunity to read several of your reports this week. I've never seen such a comprehensive report with so many helpful recommendations. I love that you supply more than just the numbers from the tests, that you give the family an explanation of each test.  Without explanations, those numbers really don't mean much to the family, and it is amazing how often I see just the bare numbers in a report.  
          As an OG tutor, I especially love your sections on accommodations at school, things that the family can do at home to support remediation, and resources!  You are so thorough in your sharing of books, links, movies... I so rarely see that in a report."

         Jody, Orton-Gillingham Tutor

As our clients have different concerns and different goals, we offer some options for assessment. We will be happy to talk with you about which might be the best option for you. Please contact us to get started. 

Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessments

These assessments are particularly well suited for individuals who have never had an assessment of their language or literacy skills, for those who have not been assessed in recent years, and/or for those who are looking for a comprehensive assessment of their language and literacy skills.

A comprehensive diagnostic assessment includes the following:

• Collection of the client's relevant history, concerns, and objectives through both a written case history form and a phone interview

• 3-5 hours of testing

• Analysis of all data collected (quantitative and qualitative)

• A detailed, written report, including any diagnosis(es) and specific recommendations

• A 1-hour phone or in-person feedback session

Abbreviated Diagnostic Assessments

These assessments are well suited for individuals who are very young (i.e., preschool age) and/or for those whose difficulties and concerns are clearly limited (e.g., articulation).

An abbreviated diagnostic assessment includes the following:

• Collection of the client's relevant history, concerns, and objectives through both a written case history form and a phone interview

• Up to 2.5 hours of testing

• Analysis of all data collected (quantitative and qualitative)

• A detailed, written report, including any diagnosis(es) and specific recommendations

• A 1-hour phone or in-person feedback session

Diagnostic Therapy

Diagnostic therapy is well suited for individuals who are particularly interested in initiating therapy services as quickly as possible and who do not require a written report.

Diagnostic therapy services are scheduled by the hour and involve administration of formal and informal measures, analysis of collected data, and implementation of therapy that is guided directly by the assessment findings. Neither a written diagnostic report nor a feedback session is included.