The developmental disabilities comprise a major group of handicapping conditions affecting 10 percent of the pediatric age group. They include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, and the pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, and speech and language problems. The Division of Developmental Pediatrics addresses the needs of patients with these conditions through a variety of clinical programs including the Early Intervention Clinic, High Risk Newborn Follow-Up Clinic, and Child Development Clinic, as well as inpatient consultation services.

Patients come from a broad referral base, including private pediatricians, pediatric continuity care, and specialty clinics at Mount Sinai, the Mount Sinai Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and New York City public schools and preschool programs. The Division provides primary care and developmental consultations to the Spence Chapin Adoption Agency, which places about 250 babies a year in adoptive homes. The Division operates the Elmhurst Hospital Center Early Intervention Clinic and the Englewood Hospital Neonatal High Risk Clinic.

Multidisciplinary evaluation and management is the model for providing high-quality service to this deserving group of children.