Overview

Overview

Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation’s Neurodevelopmental Support Program (NDSP) offers specialized care for patients who are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental impairment. Research shows that children with congenital (born with it) heart disease have a greater likelihood than their peers of developing neurodevelopmental, behavioral and psychological problems. Early identification of any concerns is a key component of patient care.

The goal of the NDSP is to help children attain their full developmental potential. Our team achieves this by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of experts to provide neurodevelopmental evaluation and intervention. We monitor cardiology patients from infancy through young adulthood to address concerns in the following areas:

  • Achievement of developmental milestones.
  • Gross and fine motor skills.
  • Speech and language skills.
  • Feeding.
  • Sleep.
  • Preschool and school readiness.
  • Reading, writing, and math achievement.
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other attention, hyperactivity or impulsivity issues.
  • Executive functioning and self-regulation.
  • Behavioral, emotional or social interactions at home or school.

Services

Patients may receive care from these providers:

  • Developmental behavioral pediatrician.
  • Medical subspecialist.
  • Pediatric psychologist.
  • Physical therapist.
  • Educational advocate. 
  • Social worker.
  • Nurse coordinator.

Referrals and coordinated care with other providers from occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nutrition, neuropsychology, neurology and genetics will be offered based on the needs identified during the patient’s appointments.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic Children’s?

  • Comprehensive care: Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation is one of the only comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation centers in the country. Also, the NDSP is the only multidisciplinary program in Northeast Ohio that provides neurodevelopmental monitoring and intervention for children with congenital heart disease. 
  • Care for adolescents and young adults: Along with infants and children, our team treats adolescents and young adults with potential neurodevelopmental delays. Patients can enter the NDSP at any age from birth through adolescence. We’ll also help transition our patients to adult care, when appropriate.
  • Expertise with developmental delays: Cleveland Clinic Children’s provides exceptional care for children with neurodevelopmental delays. Our team has over 35 years of combined expertise and includes a physician who started the first ever cardiac neurodevelopmental program and a psychologist who specializes in children with cardiac concerns.
  • Recognized as a national heart leader: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Cleveland Clinic Children’s Cardiology & Heart Surgery program among the top programs in the nation, earning the No. 10 ranking in the “2023-2024 Best Children’s Hospitals for Cardiology & Heart Surgery.” Additionally, U.S. News recognized Cleveland Clinic Children’s in 10 out of 10 specialties in its annual edition of “Best Children’s Hospitals.”
  • Multidisciplinary approach: Our team brings together experts from many different specialties, including developmental behavioral pediatrics, pediatric behavioral health, cardiology, physical therapy and social work to create an integrated care plan for your child. Patients may see up to five different specialists during one NDSP visit.
  • Care close to home: Cleveland Clinic Children’s has a large network of therapy locations throughout Cleveland and its surrounding areas. So you and your family can access trusted, high-quality care at a location near you.
What To Expect

What To Expect

Step-by-step process

  • Step 1: Initial visit & comprehensive evaluation
    • During the initial visit you’ll meet our multidisciplinary team who will assess your child for any neurodevelopmental and psychosocial concerns.
  • Step 2: Same day feedback & recommendations
    • At the end of your child’s initial visit (Step 1), our team will review the results of their assessment with you and offer individualized recommendations and referrals to address any identified concerns.
  • Step 3: School and community support
    • For children enrolled in school or receiving services through their school district, our Education Advocate will partner with you to share the results of your child’s evaluation with their school. Sharing results can help your child access the educational support they need.
  • Step 4: Long-term follow-up
    • As your child grows, the NDSP will provide regular monitoring and updated recommendations on how to best optimize their development.
Who We Treat

Who We Treat

Our team sees pediatric cardiology patients that are at high-risk for neurodevelopmental concerns related to:

  • Congenital heart disease.
  • Congenital heart disease with additional risk factors including genetic disorders, prematurity, seizures, long length of stay in the hospital, feeding or growth-related difficulties and psychosocial concerns.
  • History of CPR or mechanical support.
  • Heart surgery.
  • Heart transplant.
  • Other complications involving the heart.
Our Team

Our Team

Appointments

Appointments

To make an appointment, call 216.695.8839 or schedule online.