171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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Vince Moseley Developmental Evaluation Center
Guidelines for Concern | Special Programs |
Community Outreach | Research
The highly specialized, caring staff at the Vince Moseley Developmental Evaluation Center is
dedicated to providing a complete network of resources for children with developmental, behavioral,
learning problems and genetic disorders. Since its inception in 1966, the center has functioned
as a diagnostic, evaluation and treatment facility involved in extending the limits and
boundaries that frequently surround children with disabilities.
Because the center is part of MUSC Children's Hospital, children have access to the level of
care found only through an academic medical center. Amazing advances in the fields of genetics,
diagnostics, developmental pediatrics, pediatric psychology, child psychiatry, physical therapy and assistive
technology are taking place every day. Patients also have access to a full range of educational
and support services. From special programs for parents of babies in our Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit, to a full library of topics for special needs families, the center offers the most
comprehensive range of support services in the region.
Services are available to all children, regardless of age. Referrals may come from physicians,
therapists, school teachers, principals, guidance counselors, nurses or parents.
In many cases, Medicaid/insurance or service agencies such as Children's Rehabilitative Services will
cover the costs of evaluation. Our financial counselor can be reached at (843) 876-0539.
New patients should have their primary care phyician fax a referral to (843) 876-1518. These will be reviewed
to determine the type of testing needed then they will be sent to our scheduling department. They will mail
an appointment letter to the patient. Established patients can call our scheduling office at (843) 876-0444
or toll free at (800) 424-6872.
Guidelines for Concern
All children develop at different rates. It's natural for parents to feel concerned when
their child seems different from those of the same age. The following guidelines are
available to help parents understand when to speak with your child's physician or a member
of our team.
My child is…
- On a slower time-table to meet milestones such as tooth eruption, walking and talking.
- Unable to balance, change positions or move efficiently.
- Over-active, easily distracted, unable to follow directions.
- Impulsive, quick-tempered.
- Smaller than same age peers and not thriving despite adequate nutrition.
- Having school failures.
- Born with problems affecting structure or function of internal organs or physical appearance.
- Experiencing academic difficulties or behavior problems secondary to brain injury or other
pediatric condition that affects cognitive functioning (e.g., cancer, sickle cell disease, seizure disorder, etc.).
- Showing signs of autism, such as not babbling or gesturing (pointing, waving bye-bye) by 12 months
of age; not using single words by 16 months of age; not using 2-word phrases by 24 months of age; or losing
language or social skills at any age.
Special Programs
The Carolina Autism Resource and Evaluation (CARE) Clinic - offers a multidisciplinary team
approach to diagnosing autistic spectrum disorders. Our team includes psychologists, educational
specialists, developmental pediatricians, speech/language pathologists and occupational therapists.
Genetics Clinic - incorporates a review of medical/family history, diagnostic physical examination,
appropriate genetic laboratory services, genetic counseling and referrals for sub-specialty
evaluations when indicated. For clinic hours and additional information, visit our
Genetics page.
Developmental and Behavioral Evaluation Clinic - assesses children between the ages of 4 to 18
years old who have a combination of severe developmental, learning, emotional or behavioral difficulties. Our team
includes a psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician and school psychologist.
Pediatric Psychology Service - provides a variety of comprehensive psychological services for children and
adolescents with developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioral problems, and learning difficulties
in an effort to provide accurate differential diagnosis and specific recommendations for educational
and/or treatment planning. A number of specialty clinics address the specific needs of children with
various medical and psychological conditions. The Autism Spectrum Disorders Evaluation Clinic provides
state-of-the-art evaluation of children suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder (e.g., Autistic
Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder). The Behavioral Consultation Clinic
provides skills training for children in the context of group therapy and consultation focused on
behavior management to families. The Neuropsychology Assessment Clinic provides in-depth evaluation
of the range of thinking abilities for children with complex developmental or medical conditions.
Finally, the Preschool Evaluation Clinic provides evaluation of children under the age of six with
suspected learning or behavioral difficulties. The MUSC Pediatric Psychology Service is staffed by
clinical psychologists, school psychologists, and psychoeducational specialists.
Community Outreach
The Parent Training and Resource Center - features a free lending library containing over 800
titles. Resources also include a quarterly newsletter - The Coalition, an annual disabilities
conference, parent training workshops and a peer-parent mentor program that partners parents
with trained mentors to assist in special education services. This program represents a
partnership between the Advocacy Coalition for People with Disabilities and the MUSC Division
of Genetics and Developmental Pediatrics. This program is funded by the US Department of Education.
Research
Ongoing free research programs are available to families who meet the appropriate participation
criteria. Current programs include:
South Carolina Birth Defect Surveillance and Prevention Program - a statewide project to identify
pregnancies affected by specific types of birth defects. The aim of the program is to gather
detailed information on pregnancies complicated by structural birth defects, enroll mothers of
these pregnancies into a primary prevention program and to evaluate the effectiveness of this
prevention protocol.
Health-Related Outcomes in Epilepsy - is a collaborative effort between the MUSC Department of
Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology, that is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. The study examines health-related outcomes, including quality of life, social support,
stigma, and depressive symptoms, in children and adults with epilepsy.
Health Education for Lupus Patients (H.E.L.P.) - is a collaborative effort between MUSC,
Duke University School of Medicine, and Emory University School of Medicine. The study involves cognitive
behavioral interventions designed to improve the adjustment and quality of life in adolescent African
American females with systematic lupus erythematosus (lupus).
Cognitive Aspects of Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease - is an ongoing investigation examining the
relationship between neurocognitive functions and other indices of disease progression, including brain
imaging and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.
Efforts are currently underway to study the effectiveness of stimulant medication for the treatment
of attention problems in this population.
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