Developmental Pediatrics

The Division of Developmental Pediatrics at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children provides diagnostic evaluation, treatment plans, and therapy for infants, preschoolers, and school-age children who may have a wide variety of developmental or behavioral problems. Emphasis is on evaluation of the child from infancy to age 6, but older children may be accepted. Fellowship-trained developmental pediatricians evaluate neurologic, genetic, and general medical factors affecting children’s development. In addition, the medical staff screens children for age-appropriate developmental levels and psychosocial factors that may contribute to the presenting problem. The medical staff may recommend further, in-depth multidisciplinary evaluation if indicated.

Recommended treatment by the division may include supportive counseling and anticipatory guidance, medical treatment of specific developmental problems, and follow-up monitoring of developmental progress. The division emphasizes primary physician involvement in patient long-term care. Developmental Pediatrics works closely with the Divisions of Neurology, Behavioral Health, and Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Services; a trans-disciplinary feeding and swallowing disorders program is uniquely able to evaluate children with dysphagia.