For many parents having a child with known or suspected developmental delay, the process of initial recognition, extensive medical and developmental evaluation, and the consideration of various treatment options is a difficult and often prolonged process. Here at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, a specialized multi-disciplinary team provides detailed medical neurodevelopmental evaluations of infants all the way to adulthood to establish an accurate diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (i.e., Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]) and Developmental Delay. A developmental delay occurs when a child has not reached a developmental milestone (e.g., sitting without support, walking, tying shoelaces, babbling, talking) within average expected age ranges. A child with global developmental delay will have delays in all areas of development, including receptive and expressive language, gross and fine motor skills, and socialization. Developmental delays can have multiple causes including genetic, complications of birth or pregnancy, or environmental (e.g., lead poisoning).

Neurodevelopmental assessments are very important to rule out these possible genetic and neurological conditions that can present with autism-like features or with developmental delays. Some of these conditions are treatable, so early differential diagnosis is important.

Dr. Lisa D. Stanford (312-996-6217) is the Director of the Pediatric Neuropsychology Program and Director of the UIC Center for Learning and Neurodevelopment which provides neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental testing to assist in diagnostic evaluation, ability assessment, and educational planning. Dr. Carol Macmillan (312-355-3060) is the Director of Pediatric Neurology and the Medical Director of the CLN who provides expert medical/diagnostic evaluations of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Stanford and Dr. Macmillan develop recommendations that for treatment and education that fit with a child's strengths and limitations and offer consultative services to schools in the city of Chicago and the greater Chicago area.

These clinical services are linked to our Center's research programs under the direction of Dr. John Sweeney (312-413-3426), where brain imaging and neurocognitive studies are performed as part of research protocols aimed to learn more about the genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders and to document the usefulness of new types of clinical evaluations for diagnosis and treatment.