AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS
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SERVICES
Screening for infants up to age 18 months
Diagnostic evaluation of children 18 months to 20 years
Second opinion on diagnosis
Referrals for therapies, educational evaluations, and consultation and for family support
Coordination of community services
Consultations with neurologists, geneticists, psychiatrists and other medical specialists
Continuity and coordination of care
Consultation on educational programs, school performance
Consultation on emotional and behavioral concerns and disorders
Medication management
Consultation around adolescence and transition into adulthood
Support for parents, grandparents and other family members
Assistance with Katie Beckett Medicaid Deeming Waiver
Assistance with Handicapped Parking applications
Telemedicine outreach to South and North Georgia
Telemedicine/video appointments for families from anywhere in the country
THE DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION
The developmental evaluation consists of collecting a comprehensive history through parent report and medical record review including prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal development, general overall health, environmental factors, medical concerns, and review of speech, motor, behavioral, and emotional development.
Throughout the evaluation the child will be observed at play and then engaged in activities which will provide insight into the child's ability to interact, social, and communicate. In addition a neurological and physical examination will be completed along with standardized developmental assessments that will provide developmental and behavioral baselines.
FOLLOW-UP EVALUATIONS
Follow up evaluations are generally recommended every 2-6 months (this is dependent on a variety of medical and behavioral factors) and consist of monitoring of development, effectiveness of recommendations (progress/regressions), coordination of care, medication management (where appropriate), discussing concerns, consultation regarding school, health, and behavior.
REFERRALS
Referrals are often provided to medical specialists to obtain a further in depth look to rule out or acknowledge specific areas of concern. Referrals are often given to geneticists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, ENT, Ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, psychiatrists, etc. Therapeutic referrals are to speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, hippo-therapy, aquatic therapy, and behavioral therapy.
Often it is also important to incorporate additional community based resources into a child's treatment plan as with Boy/Girl Scouts, sport activities, karate, gymnastics, as well as social skill groups.
E.A.S.E
Are you are worried and find yourself obsessing about what your baby is or is not doing?
Please contact us and we will help you EASE your mind through our Early Autism Screening Evaluation program.
Click here for more information, or to set up an appointment
FORMAL TESTING
The Formal testing utilized during evaluations are general standardized developmental assessments such as Child Development Inventory (CDI), Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales - Second Edition (Parent/Caregiver Rating Form), Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scales (TABS) which help us obtain developmental and behavioral baselines.
Additional assessments are used when more specific/detailed information is needed such Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) - Home and School Forms, Connors' Scale (Teachers/Parents), Gilliam Autism Rating Scale - Second Edition (GARS), and Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS).
At times it is also necessary to obtain medical, neurological, and genetic testing including blood tests, chromosome analysis, celiac panel (gluten sensitivities), x-ray, CT scan, and MRI's.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Family support is also offered along with help in connecting with parent support groups and educational advocates.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
Additional Assistance is also offered in applying and renewing for the Katie Becket Deeming Waiver Form, support waivers, letters of medical necessity, and IEP review and recommendations.