Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Family-Focused Developmental Disorder Care in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

At UMass Memorial Medical Center – Children’s Medical Center, a specialized team provides diagnostic evaluations for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (birth to age 5) with developmental and behavioral concerns. We also provide ongoing follow-up care for adolescents and young adults (ages 6 to 18) who have already received an autism diagnosis.

Our developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP) clinic is home to skilled developmental pediatricians, psychologists, social workers and a registered dietitian. We emphasize a family-centered approach to care and give you the tools and information you need to help your child reach their potential.

*Please note: We are not providing evaluations for school-age children at this time.

Developmental and Behavioral Conditions We Evaluate

Our specialists evaluate and diagnose a wide range of developmental delays and behavioral issues in children, including:

• Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability (ID)
• Developmental delays affecting speech, communication and motor skills
• Delays related to preterm birth or genetic syndromes, such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome
• Growth and nutrition difficulties
• Adaptive behavior concerns, such as problems with sleep, feeding or toilet training
• Social, emotional and behavioral difficulties

The American Academy of Pediatrics lists the developmental milestones for infants through young adults. If you have concerns about your child’s development, contact your pediatrician or request an appointment at our clinic.

Our Developmental Pediatric Specialty Clinics

We partner with families, other departments at Children’s Medical Center and community organizations to support your child’s early development needs and help them get the best possible care.

Growth and Nutrition Clinic

Our Growth and Nutrition Clinic, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, provides support for families with children (5 months to 7 years) who have low weight or growth difficulties.  A developmental pediatrician and pediatric registered dietitian provide assessments and recommendations. The team also includes a social worker who assesses and supports each family’s needs. We can provide any necessary specialist referrals. Learn more about our Growth and Nutrition Clinic or request an appointment.

NICU Follow-Up Clinic (SHINE)

Our SHINE (Supporting Healthy Infant Neurodevelopmental Experiences) Clinic supports the health and development of infants born premature or with other complex medical conditions. A developmental pediatrician and physical therapist provide medical and developmental assessments and interventions after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through age 3.

FaCES Autism

Our DBP program collaborates with the FaCES (Foster Children Evaluation Services) Clinic and the Worcester Department of Children and Families to provide trauma-informed autism evaluations for children and adolescents in foster care.

Parent Coaching

Our psychologist guides parents as they help their toddlers and preschool-age children (ages 2 to 5) build healthy communication and social skills at home and in the community. They also help parents use positive behavior strategies to decrease challenging behavior. Through an interactive, goal-focused approach, families learn and practice techniques during weekly virtual sessions.

Support for Adolescents and Young Adults

We provide therapeutic services for young adults (ages 14 to 26) with ASD and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma and ADHD. Virtual visits are available.

Goals are individualized to family priorities and the child’s level of development, focusing on areas such as communicating wants and needs, back-and-forth social engagement and play skills. This is a short-term service, typically lasting for 12-16 sessions. Patients are referred from a DBP provider as needed.

How Can I Help My Child While Waiting for Our DBP Clinic Appointment?

If you are waiting for an appointment at our clinic, use these resources for evaluation and support: 

• Birth up to age 3: Contact the Department of Public Health’s Early Intervention Division (EI) if your infant or toddler isn’t meeting developmental milestones or is at risk for developmental delays. You do not need a diagnosis or a doctor’s referral to access EI services. (Note: Once a child turns 36 months, they are no longer eligible for EI.)
• Ages 3-18: Request an evaluation at any public elementary school (even if your child doesn’t attend school there). By federal law, schools are required to evaluate any child who may have a developmental disorder and need special education.
• All ages: Contact your child’s pediatrician if you need a medication consultation, hearing evaluation or referrals for speech and occupational therapy, psychiatry, neuropsychological testing, counseling or other specialized services.

*Please note: Our DBP clinic does not provide medication consultations, neuropsychological testing or applied behavioral analysis (ABA). 

What to Expect During Your Evaluation Visits

Most people have three visits at our clinic, but this may vary if your child is seen at one of our specialty clinics. Here’s what typically happens at each appointment: 

• First visit: We gather developmental and medical history and observe play. It is important that at least one primary caregiver attend this appointment. Please bring any testing you’ve had done and your child’s IEP if they have one.
• Second visit: Our team then selects the most appropriate, evidence-based tests for your child’s age and needs. Testing visits can range from one to four hours, depending on the required procedures.
• Third visit: We review test results, recommend next steps and answer questions. We provide a comprehensive report with our findings and recommendations