Developmental Evaluation Program

Children’s Hospital operates one of three state-designated childhood Developmental Evaluation Centers (DECs) at the Donald A. Gardner Family Center for Developing Minds at Patewood Medical Campus.  The other two state-designated centers are in Charleston and Columbia, S.C.  The Gardner Center provides a complete array of developmental and neurological evaluation and treatment services, along with psychiatric and pediatric therapy services, for children. The Developmental Pediatric Center evaluates children who have developmental, academic and/or behavioral difficulties and other special issues that may be associated with learning problems. The goal is to generate a profile and an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan that reflects the input from all the team members, including the parents. The family plays a key role in the DEC evaluation process.