Academic Specialists AR
Evaluations and Dyslexia Therapy in Central Arkansas
You know your child is struggling. You just need clear answers.
Through personalized testing and thoughtful observation, Academic Specialists Arkansas helps families understand why school feels hard, where a child is thriving and what support will help move them forward with confidence. We offer comprehensive evaluations for:
✦ Full academic testing for reading, math and writing
✦ Dyslexia screening
✦ Language evaluations
✦ Phonological and orthographic processing
✦ Orton Gillingham reading interventions
Let's uncover the root of the challenge and map the next best step, together.
“Before working with Erica, I felt completely confused and overwhelmed. I knew my daughter was struggling, and deep down I felt like everyone could see it, yet no one was giving us real answers. We were frustrated, exhausted and unsure what kind of help she actually needed. Erica immediately understood what was going on, how to best evaluate my daughter, explain the results in a way that made sense and point us toward the right curriculum and support. For the first time, we had clarity, direction and hope.”- Bethany S.
Understanding the Whole Child
Support doesn't stop with answers. We help families move from evaluation to action with thoughtful recommendations and evidence-based therapy designed to help children grow in skill and confidence.
Comprehensive Evaluations
Through personalized testing and observation, we begin by understanding the whole child through their strengths, challenges and the underlying skills that affect learning.
Individualized Recommendations
Once we've built your child’s learning profile, families receive clear next steps tailored to their child’s results, with guidance on support, curriculum and intervention priorities.
Reading & Written Expression Therapy
Academic Specialists AR offers evidence-based reading and written expression support, including dyslexia therapy and dysgraphia intervention, tailored to each child’s needs to build stronger literacy skills step by step.
From Insight to Action: Mapping Your Child’s Path to Success
In-person or virtual services available.
✦ Intake: We begin with a conversation about your child’s story — including birth history, developmental milestones and academic history — so we can understand the full picture before testing begins.
✦ Assessment: Using a series of short games and activities designed for ages 4 through adulthood, we gather meaningful information about reading, language, processing, writing and related academic skills
✦ Plan: Once the assessment is complete, we meet with you to review the findings and create a plan tailored to your child’s needs. This is where clarity turns into action — with recommendations that help you know exactly what to do next.
Office hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
* Payment Options: You may use the EFA Fund through ClassWallet, or private pay options, including full or split payments. Before Your Appointment, please complete your intake form at least 24 hours before your testing appointment.
Hi, I'm Erica Keen, Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist
I've dedicated my career to helping children become confident readers. My experience spans Pre-K through 12th grade, combining deep educational knowledge with a personal, one-on-one approach to help families feel seen, supported and equipped with a clear plan. My team at Academic Specialists Arkansas provides evaluations, dyslexia therapy using high-quality literacy tutoring, the Take Flight curriculum, written expression for dysgraphia and advocacy for children and families seeking the right path forward. I'm also an educational consultant, public speaker and previous graduate instructor at the University of Central Arkansas.
You don’t have to keep guessing.
If your child is struggling and you’re ready for clear answers, thoughtful support and a plan that fits their needs, we’re here to help.
Understanding Evaluations:
Dyslexia vs. Comprehensive Psychoeducational
Which Evaluation Does My Child Need?
If your child is struggling in school, choosing the right evaluation can feel overwhelming. Understanding the purpose of each type of assessment can help you make an informed decision.
What Is a Dyslexia Evaluation?
A dyslexia evaluation is designed to determine whether a student has dyslexia or another reading-related learning difficulty.
This evaluation focuses on:
- Reading accuracy
- Reading fluency
- Reading comprehension
- Phonological awareness
- Phonics and decoding skills
- Rapid automatic naming
- Spelling
- Written language skills related to reading
Questions a dyslexia evaluation answers:
- Does my child have dyslexia?
- What accommodations may help at school?
- What type of reading intervention is needed?
- Why is reading so difficult?
Best for students who:
- Struggle to learn to read
- Read slowly or inaccurately
- Show persistent spelling difficulties
- Have a family history of dyslexia
- Avoid reading
- Have difficulty sounding out words
What Is a Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluation?
A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation examines many areas of learning, thinking, and academic performance to identify strengths, weaknesses, and possible disabilities.
This evaluation may assess:
- Intellectual abilities (IQ)
- Academic achievement
- Reading
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Memory
- Attention
- Executive functioning
- Processing speed
- Language skills
- Visual-spatial skills
- Social-emotional functioning (when appropriate)
Questions a psychoeducational evaluation answers:
- Does my child have a learning disability?
- Could ADHD or attention difficulties be affecting learning?
- What are my child's learning strengths and weaknesses?
- What educational supports are appropriate?
- Does my child qualify for special education services or accommodations?
Best for students who:
- Struggle in several academic areas
- Have concerns about attention or executive functioning
- Have inconsistent school performance
- May have multiple learning challenges
- Need a broad understanding of how they learn
Which Evaluation Is Right for My Child?
A Dyslexia Evaluation may be appropriate if:
- Reading is the primary concern.
- Your child struggles with decoding, spelling, or reading fluency.
- Other academic areas are generally developing as expected.
A Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluation may be appropriate if:
- There are concerns across multiple subjects.
- Attention, memory, or learning differences are suspected.
- You want a complete picture of how your child learns.
- School eligibility for services is being considered.
Can a Child Have Both?
- Yes. Many comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations include in-depth reading assessments that can identify dyslexia. In some cases, a targeted dyslexia evaluation is completed first, while other children benefit more from a comprehensive evaluation that examines all areas of learning.
Our Goal
Every child deserves to understand how they learn best.
A quality evaluation helps identify strengths, explains learning challenges, and provides practical recommendations that support success at school, at home, and beyond.
If you're unsure which evaluation is right for your child, we're happy to discuss your concerns and help determine the best next step.
Academic Specialists AR
