FAQ

  • A subspecialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with conditions that affect the developing brain. These conditions occur prior to birth or early in development and impact multiple areas of functioning, including cognition, language, motor, and social skills. NDD is a pediatric and nuerologically based subspecialty.
  • Common diagnoses that neurodevelopmental specialists see include autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disability, genetic conditions of all kind, metabolic disorder, and nerve and muscular disorders.
  • We treat patients with neurologically based disorders ranging from purely cognitive to purely motor.
  • Multidisciplinary care is a core element of neurodevelopmental medicine, such that is engages physicians, nursing, therapists, and other specialists.
  • Physicians are often involved with patients and their families throughout the lifespan from infancy into adulthood.
  • 6-7 years of total post-graduate ACGME-accredited training (e.g. after medical school)
    • At least 2 years of an ACGME-accredited categorical pediatric program
    • At least 3 years of child and adult neurology training
    • At least 12 months of neurodevelopmental training

  • NDD training encompasses the diversity of neurological disorders that occur during childhood, development, and behavioral medicine and approaches care using a multidisciplinary, team-based focus for patients across the lifespan.
  • There is greater training and exposure to developmental and behavioral assessments and treatments.
  • NDD offers greater emphasis on working with a therapeutic team and understanding community resources and offers more training in advocacy.
  • Completion of NDD training allows you to be board eligible for 3 boards:
    • Pediatrics (American Board of Pediatrics)
    • Neurology with special qualifications in child neurology (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, ABPN)
    • Neurolodevelopmental Disabilities (ABPN)
  • Child neurology allows dual certification only (Pediatrics and Neurology with special qualifications in child neurology)
  • NDD allows more time for to focus on research or other career oppurtinities, particularly within the 6th year of training. 
  • The breadth of NDD training allows you to work in academic centers with clinical, research, and teaching opportunities.
  • Some of the different work settings include but are not limited to:
    • Neurodevelopmental Divisions
    • Child Neurology Divisions
    • Developmental and Behavioral Divisions
    • Rehabilitation or school-based settings
    • Government agencies or organizations
    • Private practice
  • The additional time in NDD residency allows for more mentored research opportunity in whatever setting you desire (e.g. academics, clinical, basic science)
  • A strong portion of NDD graduates have chosen to incorporate basic and clinical research into their careers.
  • NDD Electives: Medical students and prospective applicants can contact the program via the program director to inquire about electives in order to gain preliminary exposure to NDD.
    • See the training sites list to find the program directors to contact.
  • Contact NDD program directors for more information, they are always excited to talk to prospective NDD colleagues!