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Riley Children's Health

Down Syndrome Program

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Having a child with special needs can present unique challenges. From birth to adolescence, the Down Syndrome Program at Riley at IU Health provides specialized care for children with Down syndrome.

We provide advice and support for families while ensuring every child receives the best care available to grow and develop to his or her full potential.

Our objectives are to:

  • Give children with Down syndrome the personalized healthcare they require
  • Provide current information on health-related services for children with Down syndrome
  • Link families with community services
  • Educate the community about the strengths and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome

There are differences in the mental abilities, behavior and physical development of people with Down syndrome. Informed and supportive families, therapists and school and community personnel help children with Down syndrome reach their highest developmental capability.

Our Interdisciplinary Approach to Down Syndrome Care

When your child is seen in our program, he or she will get a coordinated, individualized evaluation. Your child will be seen by a board certified pediatrician who specializes in children with special developmental needs. A nurse practitioner, dietitian, speech therapist, occupational and physical therapists and a social worker are also part of the team and may be consulted if needed following discussion with your doctor.

Our Neonatology Department collaborates with our Developmental Pediatrics Department to treat newborn babies who have Down syndrome and educate their families. Once babies with Down syndrome have been evaluated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and any immediate necessary treatments have been provided, the Down Syndrome Program will work with you to coordinate ongoing care.

Older children may also be referred to the Down Syndrome Program. As your child grows, our program grows, too. As part of the Developmental Pediatrics Department, our team is able to adjust the care we provide to your child’s changing needs. Close communication throughout the hospital departments means that specialists are easily accessible in the event that more care is needed.

Our developmental pediatrics doctors help families transition from child care to adult care when the time comes. Conversations about this transition begin early so that the process is as smooth as possible. The goal is to enable patients to move toward independence and to ensure that they have the resources for optimal decision-making. This transition typically happens sometime between the ages of 18 and 25. The Center for Youth and Adults With Conditions of Childhood (CYACC) aids in this transition.

Conditions & Services

Conditions Treated

Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.

  • Down Syndrome

Doctors and Locations

Doctors

7 Results
Marilyn J. Bull, MD profile image
Marilyn J. Bull, MD

4.5 out of 5 stars

(89 ratings)

Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

Learn About Survey

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

317.944.4846
Celanie K. Christensen, MD, MS,FAAP profile image
Celanie K. Christensen, MD, MS,FAAP

4.8 out of 5 stars

(143 ratings)

Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

Learn About Survey

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology

317.944.4846
Charlene H. Davis, NP profile image
Charlene H. Davis, NP

4.6 out of 5 stars

(117 ratings)

Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

Learn About Survey

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics

317.944.4846
Devonne A. Elkins, MD profile image
Devonne A. Elkins, MD

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics

317.944.4846
Mary F. Hickel, NP profile image
Mary F. Hickel, NP

4.5 out of 5 stars

(49 ratings)

Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

Learn About Survey

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics

317.944.4846
Cassie D. Karlsson, MD profile image
Cassie D. Karlsson, MD

Psychiatry

317.944.8162
Carolyn L. Lytle, MD profile image
Carolyn L. Lytle, MD

4.9 out of 5 stars

(48 ratings)

Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

Learn About Survey

Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics

317.944.4846

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Locations

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Program Forms & Resources

Program Forms & Resources

The Down Syndrome Program at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

Forms

  • Consultation Request Form (Riley Children's Health) 234.186 KB

    Referring providers should fill out this form and fax it to our dedicated referral fax line at 317.944.9760.

Related Programs & Departments

Related Programs & Departments

We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.

  • Center for Youth & Adults With Conditions of Childhood
  • Developmental Medicine
  • Neonatology (NICU)

Health Professionals

For Health Professionals

We recommend that providers refer newly diagnosed newborns to the Down Syndrome Program within four to six weeks after discharge from the NICU.

Education

Medical students and residents, as well as other learners, have the opportunity to observe in the Down Syndrome Program by contacting Tara O'Sullivan at 317.948.1571.

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Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

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