Developmental Pediatric Medicine Physician Referral
Physician Referral
Driscoll's Developmental Pediatric Medicine pediatricians most commonly address behavioral and medication management issues related to:
- Developmental delay with or without behavioral symptoms
- 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
However, while it has been customary to take all developmental and behavioral patients, realistically our practice is NOT equipped to handle more significant co-morbidities such as:
- Conduct disorder
- Severe mood disorders such as bipolar or major depressive disorder (suicidal ideation)
- Concerns for psychotic processes
- Past psychiatric hospitalization(s)
Children with those co-morbidities will be directed to psychology and/or psychiatry for further assessment and treatment.
There are also certain cases that may be initially addressed with therapy alone, including:
- Adjustment disorders
- Separation anxiety
- Family psychosocial problems, etc.
The following types of concerns may be initially addressed by a therapist, licensed clinical social worker and/or psychologist:
- Family problems
- Adjustment to life circumstances
- Parental discipline
- Attachment problems (i.e. reactive attachment disorder)
- Mild anxiousness or phobic fears
- Mild depressive symptoms, low self-esteem
If psychoeducational testing has already been completed, our developmental and behavioral pediatricians will interpret the data and assist with the formulation of a treatment plan. However, the following types of initial presenting concerns are best addressed with a psychologist:
- Actual assessment of IQ and adaptive measures to determine the degree of cognitive impairment (rule out intellectual disability)
- Actual psychoeducational testing to rule out a learning disability
- ADHD inattentive subtype in the context of discrepant parent-teacher reporting, co-occurring learning disability or co-occurring mood disorder where additional assessments are indicated
- Complex learning issues where extensive psychometric testing is needed to better discern the learning profile and provide specific educational recommendations (i.e. post cognitive rehabilitation therapy, post traumatic brain injury)