Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Whether your child’s developmental, behavioral, or other medical conditions are the result of a premature birth, hereditary condition, brain injury, or other issue, the developmental and behavioral pediatrics specialists at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital can help.

Our specialists provide high quality and compassionate care grounded in the latest research. We work closely with kids and their families so your child gets the treatment they need, and you get the knowledge and information you need to support them as they grow.

Evidence-based care

We provide care for your child based on the latest clinical research, including personalized testing, treatment options, and family-centered planning.

Interdisciplinary care team

Our team includes developmental and behavioral pediatricians, nurses and nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and other professionals who work together to support the comprehensive neurodevelopmental needs of children.

Support for every stage of your child’s life

We help identify your child’s strengths, challenges, and goals so we can give you the guidance and tools you need to support your child at every stage of their development.

Our neurodevelopmental specialists provide expert care for a variety of conditions, including:

Autism spectrum disorder

This condition affects how children perceive and interact with the world. Common signs include difficulty with language and social interactions, limited interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity (such as hypersensitivity to sound).

Cerebral palsy

These conditions inhibit a child’s ability to control movements and posture. Common examples include muscles that are too stiff (or too limp), exaggerated reflexes, or tremors.

Childhood apraxia of speech

Children with this condition have difficulty controlling and coordinating the lip, jaw, and tongue movements necessary to produce clear words.

Congenital heart disease

A heart abnormality present at birth. Complex cases require neurodevelopmental follow-up to support cognitive, motor, behavioral, and social development.

Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)

Difficulties with motor control and coordination, which can affect development of skills like eating, writing, climbing stairs, or playing sports.

Developmental delays

This refers to any time a child does not reach a particular developmental skill (such as walking, talking, fine motor control, etc.) when age appropriate.

Dysphagia

Difficulty with swallowing, which can make it hard for your child to get the proper nutrition they need to grow.

Feeding problems

This includes any problems a child has with getting food and drink into their stomach, for example difficulty with chewing or swallowing, falling asleep when feeding themselves, or difficulty breathing while feeding.

Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) dependence

This occurs if a child with a feeding tube has trouble transitioning to eating and drinking even after the feeding tube is no longer medically necessary, for example due to anxiety or lacking swallowing skills.

Intellectual disabilities

These conditions prevent a child from developing core mental abilities, such as the capacity to use logic or think abstractly. This in turn can hinder or delay their ability to learn everyday skills.

Spina bifida

A portion of the spine doesn’t fully close during fetal development, potentially leaving part of the spinal cord exposed. 

Our experts provide a range of diagnostic, treatment, and therapy services, including:

Care for complex conditions

We provide ongoing care for a wide range of developmental and feeding concerns, including:

• Evaluation for developmental delays in motor, speech, cognitive, and social skills
• Multidisciplinary team focused on diagnosing and treating feeding difficulties

Visits may be one-on-one with a single specialist or a team of specialists from multiple areas of expertise, depending on your child’s needs.

High-risk infant follow-up

We closely monitor your infant's development, feeding, and behavior, and provide care for our highest-risk patients. This includes infants and children cared for in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), as well as those with complex congenital heart disease, neuromotor disorders, and other complex medical conditions.