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Austin Psychological Assessment Center - A group of psychologists in Austin, Texas who specialize in assessments for ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger's disorder, autism, learning disabilities, neuropsychological and gifted and talented testing. Many of the psychologists are school psychologists, meaning they have experience working in the school system with kids, teachers and parents.

When you are searching for a new direction, ApaCenter can help you discover possibilities for change. The Austin Psychological Assessment Center (ApaCenter) is comprised of psychologists with different but overlapping areas of expertise who conduct assessments to help you capitalize on your strengths, work through your challenges, and reach your goals. We work with individuals ranging in age from young children through adults.

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder, which is often referred to as ADHD / ADD, is a developmental disorder of self-control characterized by problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level. According to a leading researcher in the field, Russell Barkley, Ph.D., ADD / ADHD is not a phase of childhood that will be outgrown, nor is it indicative of poor parental discipline or something inherently "bad" in a child or adult.

Dyslexia is difficulty learning to read, despite typical reading instruction and exposure to books. The majority of children with dyslexia struggle with phonological processing (understanding how letters and sounds go together) and with phonemic awareness (how words can be segmented into discrete sounds). While the brains of children without dyslexia typically process sounds in a way that makes reading acquisition a natural process, children with dyslexia struggle with the basics of reading. Without identification and specific intervention, these children continue to struggle with the reading process. Without specialized instruction, students with dyslexia may learn how to read many words and often are able to use contextual cues to assist in their reading comprehension. However, their reading fluency (ability to read quickly and smoothly) suffers, leading to continued struggles and frustrations with reading. Children with dyslexia typically have average or better cognitive (intellectual) abilities and are seen by parents and teachers as bright and as having strong reasoning skills, but they are often described as not reaching their potential. Children with dyslexia may begin to become frustrated at school and their earlier apparent love of learning and curiosity may begin to suffer as they start to identify themselves as being “stupid” and unable to learn. In reality, these children simply have one deficit (reading) among a sea of strengths. Since reading is the primary goal of early education, their “failure” at this task can set the tone for how they experience school.

Neuropsychology is a specialty within psychology focusing on how learning and behaviors are associated with brain development, organization, and functioning. A neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of an individual’s processing abilities (memory, attention, sensory perception, motor skills, language, and behavioral and emotional functioning). Patterns of strengths and weaknesses in skills are interpreted from a brain-behavior point of view.