1. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Developmental Delay / Mental Retardation / Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Autism
Format 1: Point of Care (~ 5 min)
Overview Resources available at time of patient contact, to help learner care for patient and advance own knowledge of the topic.

Suggested educational material “At-A-Glance” document (as revised) , www.genetictools.org
 UpToDate: Evaluation of Mental Retardation
 National Guideline Clearinghouse: Practice parameter: Evaluation of the child with global developmental delay,
www.guideline.gov
 Roberts G, Palfrey J, Bridgemohan C. The medical evaluation of a child with developmental delay, Contemporary
Pediatrics, March 2004;21:76. http://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/contpeds/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=108019
Mini-topics
Addressing common questions in clinical
precepting.
Suggested approach Have unified access point with direct links to web-based resources available in the clinic precepting environment.
ACGME/RRC requirements Do these apply to topics covered in precepting?
Format 2: Morning Report (~ 20 min.)
Overview Brief informal discussion of case-based materials presenting major points regarding XXXX. Could be led by faculty or chief/senior
resident.
Suggested educational material Genetic Tools teaching cases (www.genetictools.org). These cases include key issues, red flags, clinical care issues, risk
assessment, genetic counseling and testing, interventions, and ethical/legal/social/cultural issues. Cases also include lists of
additional resources as well as patient information and references to primary literature.
 GeneticTools case 16: a two-year-old boy with developmental delay—discussion of Fragile X testing,
http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?
id=8888892&key=LtUXnaB0k0AZL&fcn=y&fw=YT5f&filename=/tools/cases/fragilex-16/index.html
 GeneticTools case 17: a 30-year-old woman planning to become pregnant asks about implications of her sister’s learning
disability—discussion of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome testing ihttp://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?
id=8888892&key=LtUXnaB0k0AZL&fcn=y&fw=YT5f&filename=/tools/cases/22q11del-17/index.html
 GeneticTools case 18: a diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in a newborn, http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?
id=8888892&key=LtUXnaB0k0AZL&fcn=y&fw=U3zp&filename=/tools/cases/22q11del-18/index.html
Suggested pre- reading All attendees:
 GeneticTools cases 16, 17, and 18
 National Guideline Clearinghouse: Practice parameter: Evaluation of the child with global developmental delay
Discussion leader:
UpToDate: Evaluation of Mental Retardation
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 1 of 4
Susie Ball, MS
Central Washington Genetics Program

2. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Developmental Delay / Mental Retardation / Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Autism
Suggested approach On inpatient teaching service (family medicine, pediatrics) with morning report or teaching rounds, select young patient with
developmental delay for presentation. Assign a team member to briefly present the case (3–5 minutes). Assign team pre-reading
of GeneticTools cases 16, 17, and 18, and set date for case presentation. Direct discussion toward the issue of developmental
delay detection and evaluation of etiology. Provide brief overview as discussion leader of the three cases in the case reports.
Suggested discussion topics
 What is the value of confirming / diagnosing an etiology for DD?
 What are “red flags” suggesting the possibility of an inherited DD syndrome?
 What is the first step in evaluation of a child with DD?
 What social issues might be important in inherited causes for DD?
ACMG/RRC requirements ??
Evaluation ??
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 2 of 4
Susie Ball, MS
Central Washington Genetics Program

3. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Developmental Delay / Mental Retardation / Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Autism
Format 3: Noon Conference (~ 1 hour)
Overview Formal lecture-style presentation of information on developmental delay and the approach to the evaluation of a child
with global developmental delay.

Suggested educational material “At-A-Glance” document (as revised), www.genetictools.org
 UpToDate: Evaluation of Mental Retardation
 National Guideline Clearinghouse: Practice parameter: Evaluation of the child with global developmental
delay, www.guideline.gov
 Contemporary Pediatrics: The medical evaluation of a child with developmental delay
Suggested pre- reading National Guideline Clearinghouse guideline for evaluation of the child with global developmental delay:
www.guideline.gov
Suggested approach Select noon conference slot every 3 years for this topic. Assign faculty with interest in topic to review current
information. Selected faculty will need to be familiar with topic in order to effectively present topic and field questions.
Limit presentation to 45 minutes, allowing 15 minutes for discussion of questions and / or cases of interest.
Suggested content areas:
 Overview of DD
 Compare / contrast DD/MR/autism
 Review developmental screening / testing tools
 Outline evaluation of a child with DD
 Outline genetic testing available and appropriate for a child with DD/MR/autism.
 Discuss social issues that may arise after diagnosing an inherited cause for DD/MR/PDD/autism in a family
ACGME/RRC requirements ??
Evaluation ??
Format 4: Self- Directed Learning
Overview Web-based module covering the basics of DD/autism in a case-based format. May be used at learner’s convenience
and takes about 30 minutes.

Suggested educational material AAFP Annual Clinical Focus Autism video module (Note: requires high-speed Internet access),
www.aafp.org/x39858.xml
 UpToDate: Evaluation of the Child with Mental Retardation
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 3 of 4
Susie Ball, MS
Central Washington Genetics Program

4. Suggested Teaching Approaches for
Developmental Delay / Mental Retardation / Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Autism
Suggested pre- reading GeneticTools cases 16, 17, and 18
Suggested approach Assign resident to complete review of module during appropriate first-year rotation (family medicine, pediatrics).
ACGME/RRC requirements ??
Evaluation Brief written post-test
Other Resources (more detail)
GeneReviews, www.genereviews.org
March of Dimes, www.marchofdimes.com
Revised 3/31/2006 Page 4 of 4
Susie Ball, MS
Central Washington Genetics Program