Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by abnormal communication, abnormal emotional understanding and relationships with others, unusual and often repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests.

The autism spectrum ranges from mild (pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger Syndrome) to severe (severe autism with profound mental retardation) and is prevalent in about one in 150 children.

The Duke Autism Clinic was established by G. Robert DeLong, MD, a distinguished pediatric neurologist, to diagnose and treat the symptoms of autism.

Our multidisciplinary clinic offers the following services:

• Diagnosis
• Pharmacological treatment (medication management) of problem behaviors
• Genetic evaluation
• Communication evaluation and treatment
• Provision of advice about services for children with autism
• Referral for medical care and services
• Behavioral functional assessments
• Individual, family, and group behavioral therapy
• Applied behavioral analysis

What to Expect

You need a physician referral to schedule an initial evaluation in the Duke Autism Clinic. At your initial evaluation, a detailed history is taken and a physical examination is performed by an attending physician in the clinic.

A speech-language pathologist will assess the need for further communication evaluations, testing, or treatment to be conducted at a later date. Depending on need, the following services are then offered:

• Diagnostic testing for autism. Many new patients require further diagnostic evaluation and are seen by our educational specialist. The autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) or other diagnostic tests are done at a subsequent clinic visit.
• Pharmacological management of problem behaviors. When appropriate, we offer medical management of problem behaviors for autistic patients. Problem behaviors might include sleep disturbances, social anxiety, aggressive behavior, self-injurious behavior, shorter attention span than expected for developmental level, and extreme stereotypies ("stimming"). Follow-up is arranged as necessary. For most problems requiring medication, behavior management is also recommended.
• Individual educational plan (IEP) evaluation and advice. Our educational specialist can review an IEP to ensure the child's needs are being met and to provide advice to parents about negotiating with the school system to improve services for children.
• Communication, feeding, and audiology evaluation and treatment. Duke Speech Pathology and Audiology provides in-depth communication assessments. The use of visual language techniques and augmentative communication strategies for children with autism is an area of special expertise.
• Genetic evaluation. Basic genetic testing is offered in the clinic, with referral as necessary to pediatric geneticists who work in the clinic and are recognized experts in the genetics of autism. Genetics referral is particularly helpful to parents contemplating having other children, for children with unusual facial or other features, and for children with a history of developmental regression.
• Referral to a child psychologist. For problem behaviors, medical management works best in combination with behavior management. Referral to a child psychologist who is an expert in autism is offered to families.

Appointments

To schedule an appointment with a doctor in the Duke Autism Clinic, please call:

• Jeffrey Baker, MD, at 919-572-6098
• Richard D'Alli, MD, at 919-668-5559

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Baker, Jeffrey P.
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Primary Care
• Bowman, Rachel A.
  • Psychiatry / Biological Psychiatry
  • Pediatrics / Ped-Child Dev and Behavioral Health
• D'Alli, Richard E.
  • Psychiatry / Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Pediatrics / Ped-Child Dev and Behavioral Health
• Jiang, Yong-hui
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Medical Genetics
  • Neurobiology
• Valdez, Purnima
  • Pediatrics / Ped-Child Dev and Behavioral Health

Locations

This service is available at:

• Durham Child Development and Behavioral Health Clinic
  402 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710