Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics

Overview

The Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics division collaborates with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to improve quality of life and community inclusion. We accomplish this mission through advocacy, community partnerships, interdisciplinary training, and the translation of research into practical applications.

Our multidisciplinary team includes physicians, psychologists, and social workers who provides diagnostic and on-going care for infants and children with neurodevelopmental disorders or who are at-risk for developmental delays. We are experienced in treating autism spectrum disorders (ASD), learning disabilities, ADHD and neurogenetic disorders such as fragile X syndrome and Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

Our clinics are located at the MIND Institute, which gives us access to allied faculty in Pediatric Genetics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. These clinicians can provide comprehensive diagnostic medical evaluations and neuropsychological assessments for conditions, including:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Intellectual disabilities
• Speech delays
• Motor delays
• ADHD
• Learning Challenges for students through age 12

The division is part of the Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) and is funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) as part of the Administration for Children and Families within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Clinics

Baby Steps Clinic: Follows NICU graduates at high-risk for developmental delay due to prematurity, congenital heart disease, or other conditions.

Learning Disorders Clinic: Conducts flexible neuropsychological assessments, sometimes coordinated with speech/ language evaluations to identify learning disabilities such as developmental dyslexia, and recommends evidence-based interventions.

The Feeding Clinic: Treats young children with feeding problems and failure to thrive, and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including developmental behavioral pediatrics, speech therapy, dietetics, behavioral psychology, and infant mental health. Many children and families seen in clinic also participate in ongoing research studies at the MIND Institute.

The Fragile X Clinic and Research Center: Provides assessment and treatment to children and families affected by fragile X associated disorders.

Education

The section has an active 3-year Fellowship Training Program in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (learn more). We are an ACGME accredited subspecialty program that provides research and clinical experience in broad settings. Fellows participate in joint didactics with Child Psychiatry and Neonatology as well as interdisciplinary seminars with graduate students in special education, child and human development, and nursing. Our graduates have secured academic appointments at various universities, as well as successful careers in private practice and in the community.

Research

There is a strong research focus, with an NIH award of $21.8 million dollars to the UC Davis NTRI (NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute) for targeted treatment studies in fragile X syndrome, fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and associated disorders. Other research includes cognitive and behavioral characteristics of children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and the 22q11.2DS translational research clinic, clinical trials in children with fragile X syndrome or ASD, genetic and environmental contributions to autism risk, use of assistive technology in non-verbal children with Down syndrome or fragile X syndrome, newborn screening and follow-up of babies and their families with the fragile X mutation, and use of complementary and alternative therapies in children with ASD.

Information: 916-703-0235
Referrals: 800-482-3284 (800-4UC-DAVIS)
Fax: 916-703-0243