Pediatric Developmental Medicine

Children's Health

Behavioral Health and Developmental Care for Louisiana’s Children

At Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Developmental Medicine, we believe all kids are amazing and work every day to ensure they live their healthiest, happiest lives. We offer an interdisciplinary approach to medicine, therapy, and treatment to encourage healthy development and behavior in children. We serve children birth to 18 with mild to moderate to severe disabilities or developmental delays. We help kids play and be as independent as they can be.

With the only interdisciplinary clinic in Louisiana with developmental pediatricians, therapists and psychologists in one place, we offer individualized treatment for every child. Our goal is to assess each child’s overall health, development, learning and behavior. The aim is to first identify the child’s strengths and challenges in the home, community, and school settings, and secondly, provide relevant recommendations from a biopsychosocial model.

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Professional Areas of Expertise

Clinical psychology
Clinical social work
Neuropsychology
Behavior analysis
Occupational therapy
Speech-Language pathology
Developmental behavioral pediatrics

Services We Offer

Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech & Language Therapy
Assistive Technology Assessment & Therapy
Medical & Psychological Services
Learning Disability Evaluations
Social Work & Case Management

Pediatric Developmental Medicine

Family Programs at McMains
- Wheels to Succeed
- Capable Arts Camp
- Annual Canoe Trip
- Gym Group
- Social Skills Group
- Summer Steps
- Capable Play
Learning Behavior Clinic at Goodwood
Who we serve: Children with significant disruptive behavior problems including noncompliance, aggression, tantrums, inattention, and hyperactivity-impulsivity. We serve children ages 3 to 6 and a half years old with conditions such as:
- Mild/moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Behavior disorders due to trauma in early childhood
and children ages 3 to 12 years old with conditions such as:
- Complex ADHD
- Developmental Behavior Disorders
Our team: Licensed clinical social worker, developmental-behavioral pediatrician as needed

What to expect: Initial phone consultation with the behavior therapist is conducted prior to scheduling the hour and a half initial assessment which will include a behavioral diagnostic interview, behavioral risk assessment, and review of completed parent and teacher screening questionnaires. Screening and assessment tools are mailed to the guardians at the time of the phone consultation to be returned to the clinic one week prior to the initial appointment.

Format: Treatment course is determined at the conclusion of the initial diagnostic assessment. Treatment could include Parent Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2½ to 6½), Caregiver Behavior Management Planning and Coaching, or referral to one of many internal or external services as appropriate.
Pediatric Feeding Clinic at Goodwood
Who we serve: Children with feeding difficulties with or without accompanying food allergies, gastrointestinal concerns, dysphagia, prematurity or other developmental concerns that impact feeding. We see children with concerns such as:
- Food selectivity and refusal
- Difficulty chewing
- Refusal or tantrums during meals
- Dependence on supplemental (formula) or enteral feeding
- Difficulty swallowing
- Failure to thrive
Our team: Behavior psychologist/behavior analyst, speech and occupational therapists.

What to expect: A 90-minute assessment involving diagnostic interview, meal observation and oral exam.

Format: One appointment for evaluation and ongoing therapy as recommended.

We provide recommendations to increase success, determine if other medical assessments are needed and create an individualized treatment plan including referral to therapeutic services.
Social Engagement Clinic at Goodwood
Who we serve: Children with concerns regarding their social communication and/or restricted or repetitive behavior. We see children with conditions such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Social communication disorder
- Speech language disorders
- Mixed developmental disorder
- Social anxiety
- Intellectual disability
- Global developmental delay
Our team: Developmental behavioral pediatrician, behavior psychologist/behavior analyst, speech and occupational therapists.

What to expect: A half-day assessment involving diagnostic interview, medical evaluation, developmental testing, and psychological testing.

Format: Minimum of two appointments for evaluation and feedback.

Your child will be given a diagnosis and individualized treatment recommendations that may include referrals for therapy, school advocacy support and ongoing monitoring to support long term success.
Special Needs Pediatric Transportation Safety Program at Goodwood
Sometimes, a child's special healthcare needs may require additional support or attention during transportation to keep them safe. Our program is staffed by physical and occupational therapists who have received training in transporting children with special healthcare needs and hold Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certifications.

Who we serve: Children and adolescents with special needs that require additional support or attention while riding in a car seat. We see children with conditions such as:
- Prematurity, low birth weight, hypotonia
- Orthopedic conditions (bony malformation, amputation, arthrogryposis, scoliosis) and hip spica casts
- Cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders
- Autism and related disorders
- Down syndrome
Our team: Physical and occupational therapists

What to expect: The initial appointment involves an assessment of needs and a comprehensive evaluation. The therapist will provide individualized recommendations and order necessary equipment. The second appointment will focus on fitting, hands-on installation and caregiver education.