The Early Childhood Evaluation Service provides a comprehensive assessment for children ages three and under, drawing on expertise from our clinicians specializing in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, psychology, and speech-language pathology.
Gund Learning and Diagnostic Center
Early Childhood Evaluation Service
Comprehensive assessment for children ages three and under, specializing in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, psychology, and speech-language pathology.
Interested in Learning More?
Please submit our interest form or call us at 212.308.3118.
What is the Early Childhood Evaluation Service?
The Early Childhood Evaluation Service provides a comprehensive assessment for children ages three and under, drawing on expertise from our clinicians specializing in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, psychology, and speech-language pathology.
Our goal is to provide clear answers, individualized recommendations, and a roadmap for evidence-based interventions and supports that promote optimal growth, learning, and development.
What happens when I receive the results?
Our team will share the results of the evaluation with families in a personal feedback meeting and provide a parent-friendly report that clearly describes the child’s developmental profile, including strengths, challenges, and diagnostic impressions when appropriate.
The report includes individualized recommendations for treatment, educational supports, and community resources. We are also available to collaborate with schools, early intervention providers, and treatment teams.
What Do Evaluations Look Like?
Our comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation is conducted by a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, a pediatric psychologist, and a speech-language pathologist. Our team assesses all aspects of a child’s early development, including cognition, speech and language, social communication, and adaptive, emotional, behavioral, and developmental functioning. We also consider medical, developmental, and family factors that may impact their learning, behavior, or everyday functioning.
As part of the evaluation, we use specialized play-based and social communication assessments to better understand how a child relates to others, engages in social interactions, and navigates their environment. With a family’s permission, we can also observe a child at school or daycare.
We provide certain treatment services at the Child Mind Institute and can also connect families with trusted community providers. Our goal is to help families access the right services at the right time so that children can reach their full developmental potential.
What Does Treatment Look Like?
We help guide families toward evidence-based interventions tailored to their child’s needs, which may include:
- Speech and language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Social skills interventions
- Parent coaching
- Developmental supports
- Additional medical services when appropriate
Why This Service?
Through a collaborative, play-based approach, we help identify concerns such as:
Speech and Language Difficulties and Developmental Delays
Feeding Concerns and Sensory Processing Differences
Self-Regulation, Attention, and Behavioral Challenges
Our Team
Conner James Black, PhD
Associate Director, Autism Center
Ruee Huang, MD
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician
Savanna Kiefer, PsyD
Psychologist, Autism Center
Kathryn L. Keough, PhD
Director, Selective Mutism Service; Psychologist, Training Coordinator, Anxiety Disorders Center
Vanessa O’Callaghan, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist, Autism Center, Gund Learning and Diagnostic Center
Minna Park, MS, CCC-SLP
Senior Speech-Language Pathologist, Gund Learning and Diagnostic Center
Amanda Tuckman, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Speech-Language Pathologist, Gund Learning and Diagnostic Center
Nicole Ramirez, MS
Associate Psychologist, Autism Center
Frequently Asked Questions
The service is for children ages three and under who are experiencing speech and language difficulties, developmental delays, feeding concerns, sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or self-regulation, attention, and behavioral challenges.
Our team assesses all aspects of a child’s early development, including cognition, speech and language, social communication, and adaptive, emotional, behavioral, and developmental functioning. We then share the results of the evaluation with families in a personal feedback meeting and provide a parent-friendly report that clearly describes the child’s developmental profile, including strengths, challenges, and diagnostic impressions when appropriate. The report includes individualized recommendations for treatment, educational supports, and community resources.
Ready to Get Started?
Please submit our interest form or call us at 212.308.3118.
More Learning & Diagnostic Treatments
Our Gund Learning & Diagnostic Center also offers the following specialized group treatment programs and services.
Neuropsychological and Educational Evaluation
Evaluations for students ages 5 to 25 to develop a detailed profile of learning strengths and weaknesses.
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Service
Evaluation and long-term treatment for children with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual developmental disorder (IDD), learning disorders, and other developmental and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Educational Placement Services
Help for parents to form a plan for finding the learning environment that will work best for their child.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Request an appointment at the Child Mind Institute to get your child evaluated by one of our expert clinicians today.
