Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics

Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics

At the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s, we provide family-centered, interdisciplinary, comprehensive assessment and ongoing care for children with motor, cognitive, communicative, social, behavioral and learning delays and disorders.

We evaluate children with language, learning and motor delays such as autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, Down syndrome, learning or language disabilities, and intellectual disabilities; complex health impairments such as prematurity, hearing loss and genetic-based disorders; as well as emotional and behavioral disorders such as ADHD and anxiety. 

Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Services

Our developmental behavioral pediatricians work in partnership with families, psychologists, social workers, nurses, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, parent consultants, and care coordinators to provide diagnostic clarity, treatment recommendations and family navigation services. Our comprehensive care may also include specialists in genetics, neurology, orthopedics and nutrition from the Children’s Neurodevelopment Center. 

Children with complex medical, developmental and/or behavioral problems are also able to receive interdisciplinary care in Fall River, MA at The Fernandes Center for Children and Families, a program of Saint Anne's Hospital. The staff of The Fernandes Center works closely with referring pediatricians, area schools, and community agencies to coordinate services to help each child and family.

Our assessment will include a developmental diagnosis, description of the child’s strengths and areas of need, and a recommended plan for child and family management and care, developed by our team in collaboration with the family.

Community Partners

We also provide referrals to community providers and partners specific to the needs of individual children and their families.

Some of the community partners we work with include:

• The Autism Project
• Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN)
• Family Voices
• Rhode Island Early Intervention Program
• Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College
• Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Special Needs
• Rhode Island Consortium of Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART)

Depending on the diagnosis and preference of the family, developmental behavioral pediatricians often continue to monitor a child’s progress, providing ongoing management through the teenage years and assisting with transition to adult services. Our goal is to support all children to reach their full potential.

Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Centers and Programs

The Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics offers several programs, located at our center, to provide specialized, comprehensive care to each child.

These programs include:

• Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Center
• Down Syndrome Program
• Medication Management Program
• Assessment and Clinical Triage (ACT) Program

Meet the developmental behavioral pediatrics team