CHILDREN WITH BOTH DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS - PROFILE OF 2 CLINIC POPULATIONS

Little has been written about evaluation and intervention services for children with a combination of behavioral and developmental needs. Tw o multidisciplinary clinic populations were compared, a traditional De velopmental Disabilities (DD) clinic and a Behavioral-Developmental Pr oblems (BDP) Clinic that had the additional services of a child psychi atrist. The BDP clinic children had lower IQ's and more severe overall behavioral problems than children in the traditional DD clinic, but d ifferences were not statistically significant. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other psychiatric diagnoses were referred to both clinics at comparable rates. The effort to invo lve qualified mental health professionals in all aspects of profession al training and clinical service for the DD population should be accel erated.