Pediatric Developmental Medicine
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Developmental care for children
If your child is having trouble in school or at home or isn't meeting developmental milestones, you want to understand why. At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, our team offers assessments and treatment guidance for children (ages 12 and younger) with neurodevelopmental disorders. These include:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Complex attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), when children have another neurodevelopmental disorder in addition to ADHD
Developmental delays
We also address the mood and anxiety issues that often occur alongside these disorders. When appropriate, we can refer your family to specialized UCSF psychiatric services for autism, hyperactivity, and attention and learning problems.
Child development assessments and recommendations
We offer consultations and personalized treatment plans to help your child reach their full potential. Your child's team includes neuropsychologists, developmental-behavioral pediatricians and a nurse practitioner. Our dedicated registered nurse and social worker provide additional support.
Comprehensive child development assessments evaluate your child's ability to communicate, learn, socialize and regulate their emotions and actions. We recommend treatments to address problems in these areas and help them build age-appropriate skills, such as following directions and establishing daily routines.
Due to a high demand for our services, we're only offering consultations to provide diagnoses and personalized treatment recommendations at this time. If your child needs additional testing or treatment providers, we connect you to the appropriate experts in your area.
Children with urgent mental health needs, such as psychosis, suicidal thoughts or recent psychiatric hospitalization, receive rapid referrals to the care they need. Our Wavefront Program offers effective therapies to help young people develop coping strategies for a range of mental and behavioral health disorders.
Developmental care for young children
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland provides therapeutic interventions and support for infants and young children (birth to age 5) with developmental delays through early intervention services. Developmental medicine experts also care for young children who spent time in UCSF neonatal intensive care units through our NICU follow-up programs.
Developmental care for children
If your child is having trouble in school or at home or isn't meeting developmental milestones, you want to understand why. At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, our team offers assessments and treatment guidance for children (ages 12 and younger) with neurodevelopmental disorders. These include:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Complex attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), when children have another neurodevelopmental disorder in addition to ADHD
Developmental delays
We also address the mood and anxiety issues that often occur alongside these disorders. When appropriate, we can refer your family to specialized UCSF psychiatric services for autism, hyperactivity, and attention and learning problems.
Child development assessments and recommendations
We offer consultations and personalized treatment plans to help your child reach their full potential. Your child's team includes neuropsychologists, developmental-behavioral pediatricians and a nurse practitioner. Our dedicated registered nurse and social worker provide additional support.
Comprehensive child development assessments evaluate your child's ability to communicate, learn, socialize and regulate their emotions and actions. We recommend treatments to address problems in these areas and help them build age-appropriate skills, such as following directions and establishing daily routines.
Due to a high demand for our services, we're only offering consultations to provide diagnoses and personalized treatment recommendations at this time. If your child needs additional testing or treatment providers, we connect you to the appropriate experts in your area.
Children with urgent mental health needs, such as psychosis, suicidal thoughts or recent psychiatric hospitalization, receive rapid referrals to the care they need. Our Wavefront Program offers effective therapies to help young people develop coping strategies for a range of mental and behavioral health disorders.
Developmental care for young children
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland provides therapeutic interventions and support for infants and young children (birth to age 5) with developmental delays through early intervention services. Developmental medicine experts also care for young children who spent time in UCSF neonatal intensive care units through our NICU follow-up programs.
Locations (dynamic)
Providers (dynamic)
Hannah Perrin, MD
Pediatrics • Pediatrics (Developmental-Behavioral)
Roxanne S. Almas, MD
Pediatrics (Developmental-Behavioral) • Pediatrics
Joan Jeung, MD, MPH
Pediatrics • Pediatrics (Developmental-Behavioral)
Susanne P. Martin Herz, MD, PhD
Pediatrics (Developmental-Behavioral)
Awards & achievements
One of the nation's best for behavioral health
Ranked among the nation's best in 11 specialties
Related conditions & treatments
Conditions
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism
- Developmental Delay
Treatments
- Developmental Assessment
Clinical trials
External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Children With ASD + ADHD to Reduce Elevated SymptomsOpens in a new window
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) works to treat ADHD symptoms in children on the autism spectrum (ASD). It will also learn about the efficacy and tolerability of the eTNS device. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Does eTNS reduce ADHD symptoms? - Does eTNS improve core and associated features of ASD?...Brain Development Research ProgramOpens in a new window
Dr. Elliott Sherr and his collaborators at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) are studying the genetic causes of disorders of cognition and epilepsy, in particular disorders of brain development that affect the corpus callosum, such as Aicardi syndrome, as well as two additional brain malformations, polymicrogyria and Dandy-Walker malformation...
Support services
Child Life
Certified child life specialists ease the stress and anxiety of childhood illness through therapeutic play, schooling and family-focused support.
Family Amenities
Family-friendly amenities help you relax and take care of yourself while staying close to your child. We offer lounges, kitchens, showers, breastfeeding rooms and more.
Social Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Social workers ease the effect of illness, injury and hospitalization on your family with counseling and assistance to help you navigate the challenges.
Activity Rooms
Activity rooms offer a relaxed environment for children of all ages. Features include a playroom, digital arts studio and teen lounge. Find out more.
Pediatric Art Therapy Program
Art therapy helps kids and families express themselves, making it easier to cope with pediatric health issues. Group and bedside services are available.
Pediatric Music Therapy Program
Board-certified music therapists help kids cope with illness and the feelings that come with it. Find out about group activities and bedside therapy.
School Program for Hospitalized Children
Our schoolroom services and individual learning programs help children hospitalized at UCSF continue their education and get ready to return to school.
School Re-Entry Program
We help kids return to school after hospitalization by educating staff and students about their needs and recommending needed accommodations. Read more.
Individual Playtime & Instruction
If your child can't be around other kids for medical reasons, you can sign up for private sessions in our activity and school rooms. Find out how.
Interpreter Services & Communication Assistance at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Interpreter services in many languages and TDDs are available for families that need help communicating with care teams. Here's how to access them.
Parent Support Program
Weekly activities, including knitting, scrapbooking, chair massage and more, help family caregivers get a much-needed break. Find out more.
Patient Relations at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Patient relations reps and nursing supervisors are here to answer questions and address concerns. Learn about your rights, how to reach us and more.
Spiritual Care at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
Chaplains help UCSF patients, families and staff cope with the spiritual and emotional challenges of childhood illness. Learn more.
International Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals
If you're coming to UCSF from outside the U.S., we coordinate your child's appointments and provide other helpful services. Here's how to get started.