Developmental Pediatrics

Comprehensive care for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, including cognitive, motor, social, and behavioral needs

The Developmental Pediatrics team at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) has unique expertise in caring for children with impairments of typical brain function that often impact their behavior, memory, and ability to learn. These disorders often first appear in early childhood as cognitive, motor, social, and behavioral problems that affect daily life, including school and family.

Developmental Pediatrics is a subspecialty of pediatric neurology, so our approach to evaluating, diagnosing, and developing treatment plans for our patients is based on a comprehensive look at how a child’s learning and behavior are affected by his or her brain, spinal cord, and nervous system.  We see new patients up to the age of 18, but will follow your existing child through 23 years of age.

Conditions evaluated and supported by our team include:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Communication disorders
• Developmental coordination disorders (dyspraxia)
• Developmental delays
• Down syndrome
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Problems at school
  • Learning disabilities
  • Behavioral problems
• Sleep difficulties

To accurately diagnose and treat your child's condition, we evaluate gross and fine motor skills, speech and language abilities, and social skills using several types of evaluations, such as:

• Developmental and cognitive evaluations
• Educational evaluations
• Neuropsychological evaluations (understanding the link between physical brain function and psychology)

Another important component of treating any developmental disability is providing families with education and support for daily life. The team will work with you to develop a full care plan, including:

• Advice for communicating about your child’s needs with the school system and teachers, including assistance with creating individual education plans (IEP) and requesting Section 504 accommodations.
• Medication management
• Referrals and coordinated care with your child’s primary care physician, additional specialists, and other needed support services