Developmental Disabilities

Children with ADHD have difficulty with paying attention, hyperactivity and impulse control. Learn more about ADHD.

Autism is a disorder that causes communication, socialization and behavior problems. Find out more about autism.

Children with cerebral palsy have trouble with movement and muscle coordination. Learn more about cerebral palsy.

Early diagnosis and treatment of hearing and vision problems is critical to helping children reach their potential.

We treat intellectual disabilities in children, which can make daily functioning and learning difficult.

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities and social issues.

This disorder causes children to make involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics. Find out more about Tourette syndrome.

We assess function in areas like motor skills, vision, hearing and speech to identify the disorder affecting your child. Developmental disabilities often come with related neurological conditions, which is why it’s important that a pediatric neurology expert performs the evaluation.

An EEG measures brain activity with small electrodes (discs) placed on the scalp. We offer inpatient and outpatient EEG testing. Outpatient EEG takes one to two hours, while inpatient EEG can last up to 24 hours. If your child needs monitoring that lasts longer, we offer ambulatory or in-home EEG to make extended testing more comfortable for your child. In these cases, your child will need just a short clinic visit to set up EEG equipment.

This procedure combines X-rays with computer technology to create detailed brain images. During the scan, your child will need to lie on a small table that slides through a large doughnut-shaped machine.

This type of scan uses radio waves and powerful magnets to create detailed brain images. For an MRI, your child will lie on a small table that slides into a tunnel-shaped machine. An MRI takes approximately 40 minutes, possibly longer when a child requires sedation. We have technology available so your child can watch a movie during the MRI.

We help put your child at ease during the diagnosis process. Child life specialists explain procedures in child-friendly language, while our Sedation Services team can help make your child comfortable. Learn more about diagnosis and testing.

Medications can be effective at helping control some symptoms of developmental disabilities. For example, anticonvulsant medications such as Trileptal® (oxcarbazepine) and Keppra® (levetiracetam) can help control seizures common in children with certain developmental disabilities.

Our Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medicine team helps children with disabilities achieve their highest level of functioning. Mary Bridge Children’s also provides physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy experts to help improve your child’s skills and abilities.

Assistive technology specialists at Mary Bridge Children’s ensure your child has necessary equipment such as braces, wheelchairs, walkers and communication devices.

The Complex Primary Care team helps coordinate services such as home care, rehab and equipment specialists for children with disabilities.

Our team works with your child’s school to manage issues and ensure appropriate accommodations are in place.

If needed, we can point you to local resources providing respite care to give parents a break from the stress of caring for a high-needs child.