developmental behavioral evaluations

Vermont Developmental and Behavioral Medicine (VDBM) is an affiliate of the Augmentative Learning & Movement Center. Developed as consultation practice, VDBM provides evaluations and consultative support to pediatric primary care providers, schools, and agencies involved with the care of children with developmental/behavioral disorders.

Our practice links diagnostic and educational support services in the community with primary care physicians.

VDBM staff includes Dr. Dan Larrow, a Board Certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician.

As an affiliate of the ALMC, VDBM capitalizes on the partnership of highly trained professionals in Pediatrics, Speech Pathology, Special Education, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Behavioral fields to provide comprehensive evaluations and consultations.

VDBM and ALMC’s alliance between Medical, Educational, SLP, OT, PT, and Behavioral professionals can significantly increase the types and quality of support for children with developmental behavioral disorders and can serve as a model for providing developmental behavioral medicine and educational consultative services in Vermont.

scope of practice

Dr. Dan Larrow works with children diagnosed with or suspected of having a developmental disability. VDBM’s scope of practice includes evaluations for the following diagnosis’s: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Emotional Behavioral Disorder.

In cases of co-morbidities where a child has multiple issues affecting behavior, VDBM focuses on identifying the primary disability to assist educational providers who work with the child in a school setting and the primary care physician who serves as the medical home.

vdbm goals

• Support the early recognition of pediatric developmental disorders
• Provide resources for comprehensive developmental evaluations both in schools and for primary care providers
• Provide recommendations and support for care and interventions
• Provide collaborative support to bridge the gap between the medical home, educational home and other providers

Available services

School Based Evaluations: VDBM provides services within the local school setting offering evaluations, diagnostics and therapeutic support and implementation for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD as well as Emotional Behavioral Disorder (providing differential diagnoses).

Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Practice (third party billing): VDBM provides consultative practice to primary care physicians and their patients.

As a developmental behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Dan Larrow’s evaluation of a patient takes into consideration all possible influences on a child’s behavior including but not limited to behavioral, psychosocial, and biomedical science as well as family history, home and educational environments.

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

The following assessment tools are incorporated into the evaluation process as deemed necessary.

Assessment Tool	Description
Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA)	Comprehensive assessment of adaptive and maladaptive functioning.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)	The "gold standard" for assessing and diagnosing autism and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) across ages, developmental levels, and language skills.
Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI)	Structured interview used for diagnosing autism, planning treatment, and distinguishing autism from other developmental disorders.
Social Communication Questionnaire (SQC)	Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales	Sets the standard for measuring personal and social skills used for everyday living. This assessment provides critical data for the diagnosis or evaluation of a wide range of disabilities, including mental retardation, developmental delays, functional skills impairment, and speech/language impairment.
Krug’s Asperger’s Disorder Index (KADI)	Highly sensitive test to identify individuals with Asperger's disorder.
Australian Scale for Asperger’s Screening	Designed to identify behaviors and abilities indicative of Asperger's Syndrome in children during their primary school years.

Directions To Our Office:

Williston Office: From I-89, take exit 12 and turn onto Route 2A North towards Essex Junction. Go 2.5 miles on Route 2A. Turn left onto J. Brown Drive. Take your first right onto Wentworth Drive. You will see a sign for the ALMC. Drive to the lower parking lot. Our office is located on the lower floor.

St. Albans Office: Located behind Northwestern Medical Center at 260 Crest Road in the Cobblestone Commons Building. As you enter the front doors of the building you will see the Northwestern Occupational Health Office. You will walk toward their office and veer to the right. Our office is located in Room 153.