Tylenol, Vaccines and Autism: Information for Families
Many families have questions following recent federal announcements and media reports about vaccine schedules, Tylenol use during pregnancy, and possible new treatments for autism. We know these headlines can create uncertainty, questions and concern. As a pediatric health care organization, Rady Children’s Health is committed to delivering evidence-based care rooted in science and delivered with compassion.
Overview
The Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC) at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego has operated continuously since 1974. DEC offers developmental evaluation and referral services for infants and preschoolers as well as neuropsychological evaluations.
The goals of our evaluations are to:
- Identify developmental, learning and social delays.
- Determine the significance of delays and behavior problems.
- Determine the need for further assessment/intervention.
- Recommend participation in educational or therapeutic programs.
- Link children and families to needed services.
- Provide comprehensive reports to parents and providers.
Learn more about our evaluations.
Part of Developmental Services
DEC is one of 14 programs in Rady Children’s Developmental Services department. The department screens, evaluates and treats children with behavioral needs, developmental delays, disabilities and injuries. Together, these teams offer:
- Therapy and classes in occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language therapy
- Consultation services in each of these fields
- Diagnosis, intervention and treatment that help prevent later behavioral and developmental problems
Our goal is to help every child reach their full developmental and functional potential.
Locations
DEC evaluations are available at five locations across San Diego and Riverside counties:
- San Diego (main location)
- Chula Vista
- Murrieta
- Oceanside
- Torrey Hills
Our clinics share buildings with other Developmental Services specialties, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and audiology. That lets our teams work together on your child’s care. We also work closely with developmental and behavioral pediatricians and psychiatry. To schedule, call 858-966-5817.
Training the Next Generation
DEC offers an APPIC-member postdoctoral fellowship at all five locations. Fellows take part in multidisciplinary grand rounds, seminars and continuing education, either on-site or through Zoom. They finish the 12-month program with strong skills in pediatric developmental assessment.
Learn About Our Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Mission of the Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC): To support the healthy development of children through compassionate, collaborative, and culturally sensitive comprehensive developmental evaluations and specialized services.
Service Awards and Celebrations
We’re proud to celebrate DEC team members who have received Rady Children’s BEE (Be Exceptional Every Day) Award for going above and beyond for patients and families.
Ayala Ben-Tall, Ph.D. – June 2026 BEE Award Winner
A family nominated Dr. Ben-Tall for the outstanding care, professionalism, and compassion she showed during their child’s developmental evaluation. She took extra time to gather information and worked with the child’s school team to observe how the child was doing in the classroom, making the evaluation more thorough and meaningful. In the family’s words, “She made us feel like our child and our family were her top priority.”
Kailee Gronow, M.S. – September 2023 BEE Award Winner
Our first BEE Award winner in Rady Children’s history!
Kailee joined DEC to help launch a clinical triage process that connects families with the right services sooner. Her work helped DEC reach its goal of contacting families within two weeks of their referral and reduced wait times from an estimated year or more to 6–9 months.
