Infant Development Follow-up Clinic

Contact: Emily Myers (emily.myers@seattlechildrens.org)
Core Function: Clinical Services
Program: Clinical Training Unit (CTU)

The Infant Development Follow-Up Clinic (IDFC) was established in 1977 to provide developmental follow-up of children from 3 months to 5 years of age have developmental risk factors due to prematurity (born at 32 weeks gestation or earlier), low birth weight (under 1500 grams or 3 pounds 5 ounces) or prenatal exposure to drugs. The goal of the clinic is to provide early identification and referral for early intervention for the neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral problems associated with prematurity, drug exposure and other biomedical and environmental risk factors. Each year about 350 clients visit the IDFC to receive diagnostic and treatment services. The majority are referred to IHDD by the University of Washington Medical Center. The clinic also conducts long-term follow-up clinical research concerning neonatal outcomes, complications, and treatment results.U

The IDFC provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary training. Approximately 25 trainees representing the disciplines of developmental pediatrics, psychology, audiology, nutrition, occupational therapy, and physical therapy participate in training each year. Continuing education presentations regarding the outcomes of low birth weight infants are delivered to local, state, and national audiences variously comprised of health care professionals, early interventionists, special educators, parents, and interdisciplinary trainees.