Child Development Program

Child Development Program
Meet the Team

The Child Development Program at Children's National Hospital evaluates children from birth to 4 years of age who are at risk for, or are exhibiting, neurodevelopmental delays or differences. We assess conditions ranging from birth-related complications to motor or language delays, as well as behavioral problems or differences. Our specialists evaluate more than 1,500 children each year.

Our Providers

Our pediatric specialists provide personalized care for your child’s physical, mental and emotional health needs.

Meet the Team

Contact Information

For appointments, please call 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) and for a new patient intake interview, call 202-476-6047. Please fax or send us previous evaluations, therapy notes and IFSP/IEP documents to 202-476-4043.

Appointments Informational intake interview

Experts in Child Development

Our program is led by renowned experts in infant and toddler development who understand the unique needs of children as they develop. In fact, our team leaders have been recognized for groundbreaking research, including studies concerning the developmental outcomes and complications of high-risk infants.

Our clinical and developmental psychologists work closely with your child’s primary care physician to ensure consistent, individualized care. We will follow your child through all evaluations and consultations, provide parent support and training, and refer out for medical care in specialty clinics at Children’s National or to resources in the community, as appropriate.

Services We Provide

We conduct developmental evaluations and diagnostic assessments for children referred for a variety of reasons, including:

Parent or pediatric care provider concerns about delays in motor skills, social communication, cognitive skills, adaptive skills and social-emotional development
Early signs of autism spectrum disorder or atypical behavior
Routine developmental follow-up for babies who are at-risk due to prematurity or medical events around the time of birth
Genetic conditions, chromosome abnormalities, neurological disorders or traumatic brain injury
Monitoring the developmental impact of chronic medical conditions
Baseline developmental evaluations prior to epilepsy surgery or other medical treatments
Common behavioral problems such as feeding, sleep and temper tantrums or self-regulation

The Evaluation Process

Evaluations may involve up to two visits; you will be in the room with your child
A specialist engages your child with standardized test items and toy materials in a structured manner
The specialist also observes your child during unstructured play
Important insight about your child’s behavior at home, as obtained by in-depth interviews with you or other care providers
Available records from previous evaluations or other specialists are reviewed
Immediate feedback regarding your child’s development and specific therapeutic recommendations are provided to you
Any indicated referrals (to specialty clinics or community intervention programs) are provided to you
Appointment is followed by an integrated written report

Learn More About Child Development

If you have questions for the Child Development Program team or want to learn more about our services, call us.

Call 202-476-5405

Related Care Programs

Your doctor may refer you to specialists with expertise in one or more areas of care who will work in concert with your Child Development team to provide the multi-specialty care needed to meet the specific needs of your child. Areas of specialized care we collaborate closely with include: