Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Collaborative, multidisciplinary care for developmental-behavioral disorders

Our expert team of specialists understands that developmental and behavioral issues affect the whole child. As a result, they collaborate across disciplines to meet your child’s every need. Our core team includes occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech therapists. Where appropriate, they work seamlessly with other specialists including:

• Audiologists
• Child and adolescent psychiatrists
• Clinical social workers
• Pediatric neurologists
• Psychologists

Early diagnosis of developmental disorders such as autism

When developmental delays are identified early, there is a higher likelihood of preventing long-term problems related to speech and language, motor skills or thinking ability. To facilitate timely attention to children considered at risk for autism, several of our occupational therapists have been trained and certified in administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) test, a standardized assessment commonly used to evaluate children for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

While some institutions and/or clinicians may require you to wait as long as two years for this testing, we can typically accommodate your child within a few weeks.

Beyond autism, we also work with your child’s pediatrician to identify delays related to:

• Intellectual disability
• Visual and hearing concerns
• Cerebral palsy
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Genetic disorders
• Premature birth
• Spina bifida

Identifying ADHD or learning disorders like dyslexia

If your child is struggling in school, we can help identify and manage a likely cause such as:

• Dyslexia
• Math disorders
• Writing difficulties
• Other learning difficulties

In some cases, your child’s challenges may be related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In others, anxiety may be the cause. We can effectively study behaviors to come up with the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Our team also identifies and helps you manage emotional, regulatory or habit disorders that affect your child’s ability to live a high-quality life. Some examples of treatable disorders include:

• Discipline problems like defiant behavior
• Feeding difficulties
• Sleep disorders
• Tics or Tourette syndrome
• Toilet-training concerns, bed-wetting and involuntary soiling

A family-centered approach to treating developmental-behavioral disorders

When formulating an appropriate treatment plan, we factor in how developmental, learning or behavioral concerns affect your child, but also how they affect your entire family. We strive to provide solutions that are both family- and child-oriented. Management plans may include:

• Working with schools or child-care centers to help ensure your child’s growth and development.
• Medications to help your child concentrate and succeed in a school environment.
• Child or family counseling to address specific issues facing your child.
• Speech, physical or occupational therapy.

One goal is to enable both the child and the family to acquire the skills that allow them to become as independent as possible.

Innovating to meet your children’s needs

Pediatric pelvic health

• Always innovating to meet the needs of our community, we have recently added a Pediatric Pelvic Health program designed to address such concerns as eating disorders, pelvic pain and constipation, including that resulting from a child’s reluctance to use the bathroom at school.

Sleep hygiene

• Our sleep hygiene program, another recent addition to our services, offers aid to the many children of all ages who have trouble getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.

Group therapy for adolescents

• Many adolescents can benefit from our group services designed to help teens learn and practice the skills involved in effectively engaging and communicating with peers.

Timely care close to home

To reduce unnecessary travel, as well as the frustration of waiting for treatment, we offer Pediatric Rehabilitation Services at four locations – Muhlenberg, 1243 Cedar Crest, Center Valley and Palmer Township.