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Boone Fetter Clinic for Autism Treatment
Your child’s well-being is our top priority. If your child shows any signs of autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders, the specialists at the Boone Fetter Clinic provide evaluations, diagnoses and treatments.
What we know about autism changes rapidly, so it’s important to choose a specialist who understands the latest research. Our specialists at the Boone Fetter Clinic are at the top of their fields, both in research and patient care. Your child’s treatment plan always incorporates the best and most relevant new techniques.
Boone Fetter Clinic for Autism Treatment: Why Choose Us
At the Boone Fetter Clinic, your child benefits from a personalized treatment plan. We tailor every treatment to your child’s unique challenges, strengths and needs.
The Clinic offers:
- A specialized approach: A developmental-behavioral pediatrician leads your child’s care team. These experts use specialized approaches to assess the emotional, social and developmental factors that may affect your child’s well-being. Only a handful of autism assessment teams in Southern California include the expertise of these specialists. Learn more about Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.
- Family-centered care: If your child has behavioral challenges, it can affect your whole family. That’s why we use a family-centered model of care to work with children and parents alike. Our goal is to improve your child’s quality of life and optimize the well-being of your family.
- Exceptional access to treatment: When you call our clinic, our expert nurse care managers work quickly to connect your family with the right specialist. Our multidisciplinary team offers autism assessments and treatments in one convenient location.
- Feeding expertise: Some children with autism may also experience behavioral- or sensory-based challenges with food. Our occupational therapist specializes in feeding problems and offers a range of interventions to help your child eat better.
- Long-term support: While other programs offer support during treatment, we continue to provide these services even after your child’s treatment ends. Our nurse care managers can answer medication questions, help navigate insurance, advocate for individualized education plans (IEPs) and offer additional support.
Autism Research and Affiliations
The Boone Fetter Clinic is part of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network and DBPNet. These affiliations enable our team to participate in new and innovative autism research projects. Because of this research, we can offer your child the most promising new therapies.
The Boone Family Foundation, the Las Madrinas Endowment for Autism Research, Intervention and Outcomes, and the Sharon D. Lund Foundation generously support the Boone Fetter Clinic.
Autism Treatment: What to Expect
You can call the Boone Fetter Clinic directly or another health care provider may refer you to our services. To begin treatment at the Clinic:
Call the Warm Phone Line
The Warm Phone Line (323-361-6102) is a number that parents can call for a child’s non-emergency behavioral issues. When you call, a nurse care manager discusses your child’s unique challenges with you. This specialist can answer questions and provide resources for handling your child’s challenges at home.
Schedule an appointment
If needed, the nurse care manager schedules a clinic appointment for your child.
Meet with a team of experts
Our specialists offer initial autism assessments, second opinions and a range of support options for children with a confirmed diagnosis. Your child’s treatment team may include specialists in:
Begin treatment
After the initial assessment, our team may recommend ongoing support. Treatment plans may include:
- Feeding therapy
- Individual or family counseling
- Medication management
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
The Feeding Clinic at the Boone Fetter Clinic
The Feeding Clinic offers assessments and treatments for behavioral- or sensory-based feeding issues. The goal of treatment is for children to eat enough food while experiencing less distress around mealtimes.
For an initial assessment at the Feeding Clinic:
- You bring a variety of foods that your child does and doesn’t like to the appointment.
- You and your child meet with an occupational therapist (OT) to discuss your child’s feeding concerns.
- During the appointment, the OT observes you and your child eating a meal, to learn more about your child’s specific food-related challenges.
- Based on this assessment, the OT offers recommendations for supporting your child.
Treatment for feeding challenges
If your child could benefit from ongoing treatment, our occupational therapist works with your family for three to six months. Depending on your child’s needs, treatment may involve:
- Food chaining: This technique introduces new foods that are similar to foods your child already likes.
- Behavior modification: This approach uses positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise or other rewards, for eating enough or trying new foods.
- Sensory strategies: You modify your child’s sensory inputs, by giving different utensils, sitting in alternate positions or adjusting the mealtime routine.
- Parent coaching: Our occupational therapist provides guidance for parents to improve mealtimes, often through using different communication strategies.