Developmental Pediatrics

Developmental Pediatrics at CHKD provides consultations for the evaluation, diagnosis and management of children with developmental disabilities. Our program has been designated as a Child Development Center through the Virginia Department of Health.

Conditions We Treat

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Birth defects
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome 
• Intellectual disability
• Learning and attention disorders
• Sensory and language disorders
• Medical management of behavioral problems in developmentally delayed children

Each child's treatment plan is tailored according to their unique needs. We may recommend consultation with a developmental pediatrician, lab tests, or other services depending on your child's assessment. 

Please note that we do not provide counseling services.

Important Office Policy - Please Read

Children under 6 years of age with behavioral problems such as ADHD will be initially referred for behavior therapy. Medication management will not be initiated until there has been an appropriate trial of behavior therapy services. This policy is in alignment with national guidelines for treatment of young children with behavior disorders. For additional information about behavior therapy, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's review of ADHD behavior therapy.

Your Appointment: What to Expect 

You and your child will meet with one of our developmental pediatricians.

The visit may include the following:

• Review of your child's medical history
• Review of your child’s school records
• Review of your child's development
• Discussion of  specific concerns for your child
• Neurological and physical examination
• Standardized developmental testing, if needed

Based upon initial assessment, additional standardized testing may be requested from speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy or psychology. These additional tests help us make the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for your child.

Once the assessments are completed, you will meet back with the developmental pediatrician or psychologist to review the testing results and discuss treatment options.

Insurance and Billing Information

We accept all major insurances, including Virginia Medicaid, Tricare, and Cardinal Health. Please take the time to understand how your insurance plan works, especially regarding annual deductibles and co-pays, which can affect your out-of-pocket costs.

Unless you have HMO insurance that requires a referral from a primary care physician, a referral is not required. You can simply call our office to make an appointment.

If your insurance does require a referral, make sure it has not expired and remember to bring it with you to the appointment.

Everyone should bring a government-issued photo ID and their insurance card to every medical appointment.

We offer in-depth information about insurance in our billing and insurance section.