Individual Matters

05/18/2026

Sometimes the difference between a struggling child and a successful adult is not potential. It is whether someone recognizes that potential in time.

Meet Max.

Max is bright, curious, and capable — but school does not always show it. He struggles in ways that are easy to misunderstand: slow work, uneven performance, frustration, forgetfulness, or difficulty showing what he knows.

When a child’s struggles are misunderstood, they may start to believe they are the problem.

But the right evaluation can change the story.

It can help parents and teachers understand how a child learns, where support is needed, and how to help that child move from struggling to successful.

Read our latest blog post to learn more.

Sometimes the difference between a struggling child and a successful adult is not potential. It is whether someone recognizes that potential in time.

05/15/2026

On a lighter note, the ADHD struggle is real! Lol🤣

05/15/2026

ADHD - the struggle is real! 🤣

05/13/2026

The effects of ADHD go well beyond school. When they not identified, understood, or addressed, it can contribute to chronic underachievement, workplace problems, underemployment, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

And without an accurate explanation, children and adults may create painful explanations of their own:

“I’m dumb.”
“I always mess up.”
“I can’t do anything right.”
“I’m just lazy.”

A diagnosis is not about labeling someone. It is about understanding what is getting in the way so the right supports can be put in place.

Adult ADHD can impact your earning power. Researchers found that high school graduates with ADHD earn about 17 percent less than their peers. They are also more likely to become unemployed and to receive disability benefits related to their inability to work. The symptoms of inattention, short-term....

05/07/2026

Our May newsletter is in your email inbox!
This month: "What If We Are Missing the Starting Point?" IQ testing is often the single most helpful approach (or at least the best first step) for understanding children’s thinking, learning, and behaviors.
Our newsletter is FREE. Sign up here: https://www.individualmatters.org/newsletter

04/28/2026

Kids who are struggling, bored, frustrated, or even doing “fine” can all benefit from IQ testing. Sometimes bright kids or good students struggle in ways that are easy to miss. A cognitive profile that is skillfully interpreted can offer insights that are otherwise unattainable. Results from dyslexia, autism, and ADHD evaluations that do not include IQ testing are incomplete, sometimes result in the wrong diagnosis, and too often lead families on a wild goose chase.

In our newest blog post, Dr. Katen explains why IQ testing is often misunderstood — and why a well-interpreted cognitive assessment can be one of the most helpful tools for understanding a child’s learning, behavior, strengths, and needs.

Read the full article here:
https://www.individualmatters.org/post/if-your-child-is-struggling-at-home-or-school-an-iq-test-could-be-the-answer

Kids who are struggling, bored, frustrated, or even doing “fine” can all benefit from IQ testing. Sometimes bright kids or good students struggle in ways that are easy to miss. A cognitive profile that is interpreted well can offer insights that are otherwise unattainable. Results from dyslexia,...

04/22/2026

Available on Amazon!

04/20/2026

Some kids seem bright, curious, and full of potential—yet they have trouble focusing, managing emotions, mastering academic concepts, navigating social dynamics, or completing everyday tasks. This may be twice exceptionality (2e)—when a child is both gifted and has a learning or neurodevelopmental challenge.

These children often experience anxiety, frustration, low self-esteem, or behaviors that look oppositional—but are actually brain-based.

The good news? With the right understanding and support, they can truly thrive.

👉 Learn more about twice-exceptional children and how a comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation can help bring clarity.
https://www.individualmatters.org/post/when-bright-kids-struggle-understanding-twice-exceptionality-2e

Twice exceptional (2e) learners have strengths and struggles that exist side by side—and often mask each other. This can be confusing—and often frustrating—for parents and teachers.

04/01/2026

Dr. Katen's new novella is now available on Amazon!

"Return to Mancos" is a heartfelt, quietly powerful story about ordinary moments that turn out to be anything but. Through a genuine and endearing voice, it captures the humor, messiness, and meaning in everyday life. If you’re drawn to stories that feel real and stay with you, this is one to pick up.

https://www.individualmatters.org/post/return-to-mancos-a-heart-warming-new-novel-by-dr-katrina-katen

The characters in Return to Mancos and the serendipitous interweaving of their lives have been living in my head for nearly 15 years—like a quiet seed waiting for the right moment to grow. Lexi Logan is at the heart of the story—a young psychologist trying to figure things out. Her journey is he...

03/16/2026

Is your child bright but still struggling in school? The answer may lie in how their brain learns. Our newest post explains how neurodevelopmental testing can help gifted and twice-exceptional students thrive.

Neurodevelopmental testing can also help students understand themselves better. Many gifted or 2e students feel confused about why school feels easy in some ways and very hard in others. When they see their strengths and challenges clearly explained, it can be a relief. They often realize that their...