Can you recommend a developmental pediatrician in the city or north jersey?

DS is FINALLY getting approve for speech therapy. At 25 months he still has no words. Babbles a ton and "talks" to you with babble, but no actual words. He currently gets OT twice a week through EI. (We live in NJ by the way). So we had his team meeting last night to add the speech and the speech therapist suggested we get him an evaluation by a dev. ped. so she knows why he's not talking...she says she wants a dev ped's opinion on whether it's oral motor or something more. But I know they all want him to basicallly get a yay or nay on an ASD diagnosis. I do too....I think. I guess i'm scared to death of what the outcome will be. Part of me thinks he might have PDD, but not full blown autism at all. But maybe PDD, but then part of me thinks he's just not talking yet and that's it. I don't know my head is swimming right now...

Anyway, I wanted to know if any of you saw a dev ped in the city or maybe even north jersey. We're in Bergen county. Also, is it better to see a different type of specialist for this kind of evaluation? Should I look for a neurologist? Any guidance would be so helpful as my family begins this journey.

Re: Can you recommend a developmental pediatrician in the city or north jersey?

My son had an issue (unrelated to yours) and we traveled from Queens to New Jersey to see a Pediatric Neurologist that came very highly recommended. His name was Peter L. Heilbroner, M.D., Ph.D. (Pediatric Neurology) of Neurology Group of Bergen Couty. The group is located on Ridgewood Ave in Ridgewood.

We were thrilled with Dr. Heilbronner's bedside manner and thoroughness. If you do need to see a neuro, I would definitely recommend him


Link ti Website

ETA: we originally went to LIJ/Cohen's and I actually wasn't happy with the level of service from them. I made an appoitment with one doctor, saw another one on call, was reviewed by the head doctor and sent on my way .... And they didnt sit and explain everything like Dr. Heilbronner did.

Message edited 3/11/2011 6:32:24 PM.

Re: Can you recommend a developmental pediatrician in the city or north jersey?

Hi Alissa
I just got some recomendations on Pediatric Neurologists on Friday for my son. I haven't heard back from them but they came highly recommended. Two are in Ridgewood (probably in same practice as previous poster) and one is affiliated with Hackensack.

I also had my son evaluated by a developmental pediatrician at Hackensack. They were fine but I wasn't wowed. I don't think anyone privately takes insurance so it's prob better if you go through a hospital. I called Valley, St. Joes and Hackensack and all had waiting lists. Hackensack took me in earlier bc they had cancellations.

My son is turning 5 and he went through the speech therapy with the county and he did great. We then enrolled him in integrated preschool with our town and he gets speech about 3 times a week while there.
He originally had a speech delay but now he was diagnosed with low muscle tone and they are concerned with his articulation.

Let me know if you have any questions or need the names of the doctors. If you want to chat, let me know esp since we live close by !!!

Good luck !!

Re: Can you recommend a developmental pediatrician in the city or north jersey?

Thank you for the recommendations! Does anyone else have one by chance?

Also, I've made a couple of calls and none of them seem to take insurance. Is this common, even the ones who practice in a hospital?