Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics

At Children’s National Hospital, our pediatric team includes neurodevelopmental specialists who understand healthy brain development and care. We provide personalized testing, diagnosis and treatment, as well as comprehensive support and follow-up care. Our specialists treat many types of conditions, ranging from learning delays to movement disorders to degenerative brain disease.

Comprehensive Neurodevelopmental Resources

Neurodevelopmental disorders can affect your child’s ability to think and function normally. Symptoms of behavior or learning difficulties, autism, brain tumors or other brain and developmental disorders can appear at birth or in later years. We evaluate and treat newborns through young adults who have these and other types of intellectual and developmental disorders.

Our Neurodevelopmental resources include:

• Coordinated care, resources and support. We’ll coordinate your child’s care in an inpatient or outpatient setting and provide help at home or in school, including a personalized care plan. Compassionate experts will teach your child and your family about living with neurodevelopmental conditions. We’ll also help you communicate with school systems and others about your child’s condition, resources needed or other concerns. Your neurodevelopmental pediatrician will direct your child’s care, including prescription medicine and test results.
• Comprehensive, multidisciplinary teams. Our specialists work together to provide expertise tailored to your child’s specific condition. Areas of specialization include pediatric neurology, neuropsychology, child psychiatry and neurogenetics. Other programs include pediatric stroke, fragile X, and neurorehabilitation care. Nurse practitioners, genetic counselors and other care team specialists collaborate to assure well-rounded and complete care.
• Research for better care. Children’s National doctors and scientists team up with each other and with other research leaders to study healthy brain development, function and growth. Children’s National oversees the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center in Washington, D.C., funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Studies like these lead to better understanding, treatments, and preventive care.

Conditions We Treat

Neurodevelopmental conditions we treat include:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 
• Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome
• Communication disorders
• Developmental coordination disorders (dyspraxia)
• Developmental delays
• Down syndrome
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Learning disorders
• Neurogenetic conditions 

Specialized Programs

Neurodevelopmental disorders can occur alongside other complex conditions. If your child needs to see another specialist, our team will arrange and coordinate that care. We can assist with referrals to departments within Children's National, community resources and other health professionals in the Washington, D.C., area such as:

• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
• Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Hearing and Speech Services
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurogenetics
• Neuropsychology

Multidisciplinary Team

The Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics team at Children’s National includes:

• Geneticists
• Genetic counselors
• Intensivists
• Neurodevelopmental specialists
• Neurologists
• Neuro-ophthalmologists
• Neurophysiologists
• Neuroradiologists (diagnostic and interventional)
• Neurosurgeons
• Nurses
• Nurse practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians
• Social workers

Contact Us

For more information about Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, please call 202-476-2327.