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Specialized Services |
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A B C D E F G H I K L M P R S T W All Services
Autism and Neurodevelopment Center
It is estimated that one in 150 children in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which are a group of developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the brain. They can impact a child's functioning in different ways and with varying severity.
The UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Center specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with the full range of ASDs, including autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorders, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Our team of experts includes a psychologist, a child neurologist, a child psychiatrist and a geneticist who all specialize in caring for children with ASDs.
Services
We provide comprehensive services for children with ASDs, including clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, cutting-edge research and community outreach with schools and other community-based providers.
Our clinic also offers additional services to children with an ASD who may also be diagnosed with other specific neurologic or genetic conditions. In these cases, we provide neurologic and genetic consultation in coordination with the diagnostic assessment and treatment planning services available through a separate UCSF clinic specializing in autism, the UCSF Autism Clinic at the UCSF Children's Center at Langley Porter.
Our services include:
- Clinical Assessment, Psychoeducation and Behavioral Consultation
In accordance with the California Diagnostic Best Practice Standards, our experts conduct an in-depth developmental history, play session and cognitive assessment with each child. Symptom-specific treatment plans and behavioral interventions are then developed based on the autistic learning disability approach. In developing a treatment plan, we focus on the entire family and use a range of methodologies and evidence-based treatment strategies. We also partner with school and community based providers.
- Neurologic Evaluation and Treatment
We provide a thorough neurologic history and physical examination with each child to identify any underlying causes for perceived autistic learning differences. Recommendations for further evaluation may include an electroencephalogram, which is a magnetic resonance imaging study of the brain or laboratory investigations. Behavioral and medication plans are then integrated with the psychoeducational plan.
While all the causes of ASDs are still unknown, genetic factors clearly play a strong role. Research suggests that known medical and genetic causes may contribute to 10 percent of cases of ASDs. We provide a detailed genetic assessment and make recommendations for a tailored genetic evaluation based on each childs history and examination.
Research
Our experts are actively conducting cutting-edge research to better understand ASDs. Currently, we are recruiting patients for the following research studies:
- Somatosensory (touch) Study
This study assesses tactile processing in male children with autism. It includes diagnosis, IQ testing and non-invasive brain imaging studies. Boy 7 to 12-years-old with autism can participate.
This study assesses eye movements and related brain function. Adults over 18-years-old with autism or Asperger's syndrome can participate.
- Autism Learning Disabilities Inventory
We are developing a caregiver report screening questionnaire to assess autistic learning styles. All of our patients can participate.
If interested in participating in our research studies, please contact our clinic coordinator, Monica Arroyo at (415) 476-7385.
More Information
If you are interested in scheduling an initial evaluation of your child at the UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Center, please call the clinic to schedule a phone intake screening. We will then schedule appointments as appropriate. In some cases, we may request a videotape of your child for review prior to scheduling an appointment. Please indicate which clinical services you are interested in. We try to schedule appointments within four months.
If you would like to schedule an initial or follow-up clinic evaluation, please contact our clinic coordinator, Monica Arroyo at (415) 476-7385 or marroyo@lppi.ucsf.edu.
Payment and Insurance
Many of our services are covered by health care plans. Our insurance department will check your coverage before scheduling your child's appointment. We accept self-pay for all families. We are currently unable to accept Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Programs for psychology and psychiatry services.
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