Welcome to the Center for Autism and Related Conditions

The UT Physicians Pediatric Center for Autism and Related Conditions is part of the Dan L Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Program at the Children’s Learning Institute (CLI). Housed within the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, CLI is the preeminent resource for tested, proven, effective results through scientific research and evidence-based interventions. 

We recognize that the challenges faced by children with developmental concerns are not always linked to a simple medical diagnosis. These are complex neurodevelopmental issues in which multiple developmental concerns likely overlap and require a comprehensive look at every child. This understanding guides our approach to utilizing patient-centered, evidence-based methods in our diagnostic evaluations and our treatment recommendations. We are a multi-disciplinary team that includes developmental and behavioral pediatrics, child psychology, and speech and language pathology.

Who We Serve

We encourage you to contact our clinic if you have concerns about your child related to:

• social communication
• developmental delays
• suspected or diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• attention and/or hyperactivity

For concerns about social communication, developmental delays, or ASD, we provide services to children from birth to early middle school. For concerns about attention, hyperactivity or medication management for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), we provide diagnostic evaluations and ongoing medication management for children when clinically indicated. We are not able to provide behavioral therapy or address more serious behavioral concerns such as aggression.

How We Evaluate

We understand that parents and caretakers are the experts on their children. This understanding provides the foundation for how our multi-disciplinary team works collaboratively with families in the diagnostic evaluation and ongoing followup of every child. The evaluation includes consultation with parents and caretakers to understand their child’s strengths as well as areas needing support. Depending on the concerns, we work to gain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s needs using:

• parent reports
• direct observation
• teacher feedback
• standardized assessments, when appropriate

We provide recommendations if needed for further medical work-up or other evidence-based therapeutic interventions. We strive to make the diagnostic evaluation process as comfortable as possible for children and parents, as we know it can be stressful to have concerns about your child.