Pediatric Development Center

Accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment planning and resource support are the cornerstones of our diagnostic evaluations. Our specially trained, multidisciplinary team uses diagnostic procedures that provide the most reliable and valid assessment for your child’s needs (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, challenges with attention, learning, and behavior). Evaluations are available for children from early childhood through adolescence and include the following:

• Medical diagnostic team evaluations for children from birth to three
• Medical evaluation from developmental pediatricians
• Speech and language therapy evaluations
• Occupational therapy evaluations
• Physical therapy evaluations
• Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations

The Behavioral Psychology Program is a comprehensive program providing treatment for children ages 3 to 17 years with developmental issues who exhibit behavioral and emotional challenges. Services are focused on families with parent training followed by therapies addressing your family’s treatment goals.

• Developmental issues include challenges with communication, sensory regulation, ADHD, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and genetic disorders.
• Behavioral and emotional issues addressed include noncompliance, tantrums, anxiety, mood, parent-child interactions, challenges with sleeping and eating, and organizational or executive functioning problems.

Program services include:

• Parent training
• Family-focused therapeutic treatment
• Treatment for preschoolers
• Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
• Socialization groups
• Executive functioning group
• Social work services
• School consultation
• Consultation with speech and occupational therapy

The Autism Program is a multidisciplinary program with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of children, from early childhood through adolescence, with Autism spectrum disorders. Program locations include Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge and the Pediatric Development Center at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

The program combines clinical best practices and evidence-based supportive care within a family-centered program. From early diagnosis to transitioning to young adulthood, the Autism Program’s developmental and behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, behavior therapists, and speech and occupational therapists support parents, caregivers and families every step of the way. The program’s mission emphasizes family involvement, empowering independence, and supporting strengths and abilities.

Our services include:

• Parent training
• Diagnostic evaluations
• Therapeutic treatment
• Social group programming
• School consultation
• Consultation with speech and occupational therapy
• Sibling support

For more information on services at the Pediatric Development Center contact us at 773-296-7340

The ECHO Autism in Primary Care program connects your doctor with experts in diagnosing and coordinating care for individuals with autism so your child can get better access to the specialized care they need right in your community. Benefits of ECHO include:

• Better access for rural and underserved patients
• Faster, more equitable spread of best treatment practices
• Greater consistency in available care

Advocate Children's Hospital is the first ECHO Autism site in Illinois and one of only approximately 25 such sites throughout the U.S. and the world.

Have your doctor email ACH-ECHOAutism@advocatehealth.com to learn how they can participate in ECHO Autism and provide better, close-to-home care for your child.