NDPSC Clinic | Medical College of Wisconsin

The Neurodevelopmental Disorders Psychiatry Specialty Clinic is available to people with neurodevelopmental disorders who also have behavioral problems or psychiatric disorders and are seeking professional evaluation and treatment. Schedule an Appointment

Mission

The NDPSC will provide diagnostic assessments, medication and non-medication treatments, incorporating best practices and using quality concepts, educating current and future clinicians, being a resource for patients and families, engaging in scholarship, and collaborating with clinicians at MCW, Froedtert Health, and the Wisconsin community.

Vision

The NDPSC will be a trusted leader, a center of excellence, and a clinical resource in improving the quality of life for persons with co-occurring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. We will live by our values of caring and respecting people, working together inclusively, learning and sharing knowledge, and being responsible with integrity.

Stabilization model

To improve access to care, the NDPSC uses a model of treatment called stabilization, which is done in coordination with a patient's primary care or community prescriber. Once treatment has been successful, if there is a need for ongoing maintenance medication treatment, at that time our providers would transition medication treatment back to our patient's primary care or community prescriber. If there is a need for stabilization in the future, our providers would be glad to see you for re-stabilization.

Visit expectations

Initial assessments will be for 90-120 minutes in-person, with follow-up visits being virtually. If stabilization is longer than 11 months another in-person visit is scheduled.

Clinic set up

The clinic meets Thursday between 1:00 and 6:00 pm and is located at the Tosa Health Center at:

1155 North Mayfair Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

The NDPSC has a pool of nurses and medical assistants that assist in addressing issues that occur between appointments.

Goals for patients

Promote a patient's sense of independence, freedom, and self-determination, to improve your quality of life, and to assist them in addressing any developmental tasks
Determine the best way to understand patient concerns or symptoms, clarify if they have a psychiatric disorder, and offer safe and effective treatment options including levels of care and alternatives to treatment
Educate patients about any current disorders so that they can make the most informed decisions for themselves regarding their care and treatment. Patients are the decision maker in their treatment; Dr. O'Grady and staff are here to help inform your decision making

About Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions that begin to emerge during childhood (or the development of the nervous system). According to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) published in 2013, these conditions generally appear in early childhood, usually before children start school, and can persist into adulthood. The key characteristic of all these disorders is that they negatively impact a person's functioning in one or more domains of life (personal, social, academic, occupational) depending on the disorder and deficits it has caused. All of these disorders and their levels of impairment exist on a spectrum, and affected individuals can experience varying degrees of symptoms and deficits, despite having the same diagnosis.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

(ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive dysfunction occasioning symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and otherwise age-inappropriate.

ADHD symptoms arise from executive dysfunction, and emotional dysregulation is often considered a core symptom. Difficulties with self-regulation such as time management, inhibition and sustained attention may result in poor academic performance, unemployment and numerous health risks, collectively predisposing to a diminished quality of life and a direct average reduction in life expectancy of 13 years. ADHD is associated with other neurodevelopmental and mental disorders as well as some non-psychiatric disorders, which can cause additional impairment, especially in modern society.

Autism, formally called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC)

Autism, formally called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by deficits in reciprocal social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Other common signs include difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, along with perseverative interests, stereotypic body movements, rigid routines, and hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input.

Autism is clinically regarded as a spectrum disorder, meaning that it can manifest very differently in each person. For example, some are nonspeaking, while others have proficient spoken language. Because of this, there is wide variation in the support needs of people across the autism spectrum.

Communication disorders

A communication disorder is any disorder that affects an individual's ability to comprehend, detect, or apply language and speech to engage in dialogue effectively with others. This also encompasses deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication styles. The delays and disorders can range from simple sound substitution to the inability to understand or use one's native language.

Intellectual disabilities

Intellectual disabilities (IDs), or intellectual development disorder, are defined by the DSM-5 as "deficits in general mental abilities". They affect a person's ability to process information, learn or retain information, think critically or abstractly, and solve problems. They ultimately inhibit a person's ability to adapt to their surroundings, to the extent that individuals may fail to meet milestones of independent functioning or social responsibility in one or more activities of daily living. Global developmental delay (GDD) is categorized under intellectual disability and "is diagnosed when an individual fails to meet expected developmental milestones in several areas of intellectual functioning."

Motor disorders

Motor disorders are disorders of the nervous system that cause abnormal and involuntary movements. They can result from damage to the motor system. Motor disorders are defined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) – published in 2013 to replace the fourth text revision (DSM-IV-TR) – as a new sub-category of neurodevelopmental disorders. The DSM-5 motor disorders include developmental coordination disorder, stereotypic movement disorder, and the tic disorders including Tourette syndrome.

Specific learning disorders

While learning disability and learning disorder are often used interchangeably, they differ in many ways. Disorder refers to significant learning problems in an academic area. These problems, however, are not enough to warrant an official diagnosis. Learning disability, on the other hand, is an official clinical diagnosis, whereby the individual meets certain criteria, as determined by a professional (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, speech-language pathologist, or pediatrician). The difference is in the degree, frequency, and intensity of reported symptoms and problems, and thus the two should not be confused. When the term "learning disorder" is used, it describes a group of disorders characterized by inadequate development of specific academic, language, and speech skills. Types of learning disorders include reading (dyslexia), arithmetic (dyscalculia) and writing (dysgraphia).

Resources

AAIDD

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary membership organization of professionals and others concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1876, it has educational materials and trainings helpful for families and community service providers.
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

This is an association of over 10,000 practicing psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, medical students and other mental health professionals focusing on diagnosing and treating mental disorders in children and adolescents including neurodevelopmental disorders. The website includes information on educational resources, best practices, family and youth information, and advocacy.
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American Academy of Pediatrics

This is an association of over 67,000 pediatricians with a focus on diagnosing and treating medical and developmental disorders in children and adolescents. The website includes information on patient care, research activities, advocacy, and policies.
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American Psychiatric Association

This is an association of over 38,000 practicing psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, and medical students focused on diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. The website includes information on education, advocacy, policies, best practices, and publications.
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ASSW

Autism Society of Southeast Wisconsin is a local resource with educational and therapeutic resources for persons and families regarding Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
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Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities is a federally funded organization with a focus on identifying and treating developmental disorders.
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Children's Wisconsin Down Syndrome Program

The Down Syndrome Program based at Children’s Wisconsin is an excellent resource to address clinical concerns, offering information and consultation for families and primary care providers.
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NORD

The National Organization for Rare Diseases is a good resource for information regarding neurogenetic developmental disorders.
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Waisman Center

The Waisman Center is a federally supported organization located in Madison Wisconsin, affiliated with the University Of Wisconsin, with information resources, clinical services, research activities, and professional training with a focus on neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Wisconsin Department of Health Services

This is the state organization which oversees health services in Wisconsin. The website includes information on long-term-care and supports (including adult developmental disability services), health care and coverage (including services for children with disabilities), and certification, licenses, and permit information for service providers.
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University of Minnesota Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain

This is a multidisciplinary Center at the University of Minnesota with a focus on clinical services and research on neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Learn More

Meet the Team

Joseph O’Grady Jr., MD, is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is the Director of the MCW Neurodevelopmental Disorders Psychiatry Specialty Clinic at the Tosa Health Center.

Joseph P. O'Grady, MD

Associate Professor

NDPSC Nursing Team

The Nursing team for the NDPSC provides support for patients and families for medication refills and to address clinical issues that are urgent and need to be addressed between appointments.

NDPSC Administrative Team Image Text Split

NDPSC Administrative Support Team

The Administration team for the NDPSC provides support for patients and families with regard to clinic registration, appointment scheduling, and other administrative tasks.

Contact the NDPSC Clinic

Please contact the clinic with questions or to schedule an appointment

The NDPSC Clinic is located at the Tosa Health Center:
1155 N. Mayfair Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

(414) 955-8900
(414) 955-6285 (fax)
Schedule an Appointment

Medical College of Wisconsin Neurodevelopmental Disorders Psychiatry Specialty Clinic (NDPSC)