Developmental Pediatric Medicine

Driscoll’s Developmental Pediatric Medicine Department is staffed by both developmental-behavioral pediatric specialists and a pediatric psychologist. Each new patient to the clinic must have a referral from their primary care physician in order to schedule an evaluation and determine which specialty is best suited to address referral concerns.

Developmental-behavioral specialists are trained to most commonly address behavioral and medication management issues related to:

• Developmental delay with or without behavioral symptoms
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) plus mild co-morbidities such as anxiety and dysthymia
• Autism diagnostic clarification and medication management of target behaviors
• Genetic syndromes with behavioral symptoms
• Neurodevelopmental concerns

The psychologist on staff is able to provide more specific cognitive and academic standardized testing, along with assessments of emotional functioning, language developmental and memory functioning. Some counseling services are provided by psychologist.

Services

Physicians with the Developmental Pediatric Medicine Department perform assessments and provide treatment for the following:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Tourette disorder
• Selective mutism
• Developmental delays and learning disabilities (treatment and evaluation is provided AFTER private or school academic and IQ testing scores have been completed by psychologist)
• Developmental evaluations in preschool and younger children (≥6 years old need more formal testing with the psychologist)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Mild anxiety and depression disorder when co-morbid with ADHD
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Medical management of behavior problems in children with ASD, developmental delay and/or genetic syndrome

Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are NOT psychiatrists and do not perform any counseling services.

Pediatric psychologists with the Developmental Pediatric Medicine Department perform independent evaluations and are able to provide some counseling services in the following areas:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Developmental delay/intellectual disability
• School related academic difficulties and learning disorders
• ADHD and co-morbidities
• Parenting difficulties and anger management
• Aggressive/impulsive/acting out behaviors

 A developmental psychologist and educational diagnostician independently provide testing services for the following areas:

• Cognitive abilities
• Academics
• Language development
• Autism
• Memory functions