Behavioral and Developmental Care at The Children's Hospital

The Child Development Unit (CDU) at The Children’s Hospital evaluates children with a variety of developmental and neurobehavioral differences. We provide single-specialty evaluations as well as an interdisciplinary team approach, where multiple specialties see a child during a single appointment. Specially trained clinicians provide patients and families with the resources necessary to understand a diagnosis, cope with the challenges they might face, and find appropriate therapies or interventions.

Why Choose The Children’s Hospital to Evaluate Your Child’s Behavior and Development Concerns?

Clinicians in the CDU have special training and expertise in a variety of developmental and behavioral disorders, and we tailor our evaluations to the needs of your child and your family. In some cases, a child simply needs an evaluation by one of our specialists. If multiple specialists are involved, we offer interdisciplinary team evaluations, which offers the benefit of seeing several specialists – all working together for your child – at one appointment. We help you understand your child’s strengths and difficulties, and we help you find appropriate interventions to help your child reach his or her maximum potential.

Behavior and Development Conditions We Treat

• Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, PDD-NOS
• Developmental delays
• Mental retardation
• Fragile X Syndrome
• X & Y chromosome abnormalities
• Sensory/regulatory modulation disorders
• Problems associated with fussy babies, including colic, infant irritability, uncontrollable crying, excessive fussiness, oversensitivity to stimuli
• Other disorders affecting learning, attention, behavior and social skills

Resources for Your Child's Developmental and Behavioral Care

Developmental Delays

Parents/caregivers also should contact Early Childhood Connections for concerns about development in infants and children up to the age of 36 months at 1-888-777-4041.

Other Disorders Affecting Learning, Attention, Behavior and Social Skills

Depending on your child's disorders, The Children's Hospital can help direct you to other appropriate resources for their care, including:

• General pediatrician for routine pediatric problems such as ADHD
• Child/adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist for depression or bipolar disorder, or if ongoing treatment is needed for behavior problems
• Family therapist or social worker
• Clinical Genetics program at The Children's Hospital
• Neurologist at The Children's Hospital 
• Hearing, Speech and Learning services at The Children's Hospital for the evaluation of learning abilities
• Parents/caregivers should also contact their local school district for speech and other learning concerns in children three years and older. Visit The Colorado Department of Education Special Education Services Unit (.pdf) for more information.