NIH Biosketch available OnlineHeidi M. Feldman
- Professor - Med Center Line, Pediatrics - Neonatology
Contact Information
- Clinical Offices
Development and Behavior Unit 730 Welch Rd Palo Alto, CA 94304 Telephone Work (650) 725-8995 Fax (650) 724-6500
Clinical Focus
- General Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Administrative Appointments
- Medical Director, Development and Behavior Unit, LPCH , (2006– present )
Honors and Awards
- Ballinger-Swindells Endowed Professorship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine (2006 - present)
- Academy of Master Educators, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2006)
- Outstanding Alumna, University of California San Diego (2003)
- Ronald L and Patricia M Violi Professor of Pediatrics and Child Development, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh (2001-2006)
- Excellence in Education Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2000)
- Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh (1999)
- National Pediatric Faculty Scholars Program, Ambulatory Pediatric Association and Health Resources and Services Administration (1998-2000)
- Member, American Pediatrics Society (1998-present)
- Senior Member, Society for Pediatric Research (1996-present)
- Member, Society for Pediatric Research (1992-1996)
- Mortar Board Senior Women's Honor Society, Chapter President, University of PA (1969-1970)
- Miles S. Murphy Award for Distinction in Psychology, University of PA (1970)
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of PA (1970)
Professional Education
- University of California San Diego (06/1982) CA
- University of California San Diego (06/1980) CA
- Children's Hospital of Boston (06/1984) MA
- Children's Hospital of Boston (06/1983) MA
- University of California San Diego (1979) CA
- Board Certification: Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics (2002)
- Board Certification: General Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics (1985)
- MD, University of CA San Diego Medicine (1979)
- PhD, University of PA Developmental Psychology (1975)
Postdoctoral Advisees
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Web Site Links
Current Research Interests
I am a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. My research interests focus on child language. Language development in young children is central to the acquisition of information and to the development of learning abilities and social skills. A variety of clinical conditions put language learning at risk.
Chronic otitis media is associated with conductive hearing loss that may alter access to the verbal environment.
I was part of a team that investigated the long-term developmental consequences of otitis media with effusion. This research has documented that early placement of tympanostomy tubes restores normal hearing but does not confer any developmental advantages over watchful waiting in children with chronic middle ear effusions. Because the design of the study was a randomized clinical trial, the strong implication is that middle ear effusion does not cause developmental compromise in speech, language, cognition, or reading. The results have major clinical significance and have been cited in the revisions of practice guidelines for management of otitis media with effusion.
Early focal injuries to the left hemisphere damage what have been considered classic language areas of the brain. Children with such injuries learn to understand and speak competently during the preschool years, though some show mild to moderate developmental delays. Differences between children with left and right hemisphere damage are minimal. Children with focal injuries continue to perform below the level of their age-matched peers into school age, though both groups show improvements in performance at least through at 12 years. Functional magnetic resonance imaging document increased right hemisphere activation during language processing after focal left hemisphere injury. These studies provide an insight into the mechanisms of plasticity in the neural systems of language development. My current research focuses on language and cognition after prematurity. A substantial proportion of children born prematurely have injury to the white matter of the brain. The study seeks to determine if the integrity of white matter tracks can explain developmental outcomes after prematurity as well as which areas of the brain become activated during language and other cognitive tasks.
I am also extremely interested in improving the delivery of health care to children with developmental and behavioral disorders. To this end, I am supervising and participating studies that apply the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), to care coordination and long-term planning for young adults with developmental disorders who transitioning into adult health care systems. The ICF may also prove a valuable tool within the medical home for children with developmental disorders.
Publications
- Brain Lang. 2010;
- Dev Med Child Neurol. 2009;
- Disabil Rehabil. 2009; (2): 94-102
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009; (4): 431-40
- J Child Neurol. 2009; (7): 795-800
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2009; (4): 327-30
- Child Dev. 2008 Nov-Dec; (6): 1853-68
- Ambul Pediatr. 2007 Jan-Feb; (1 Suppl): 82-90
- J Pediatr Psychol. 2007; (6): 643-54
- N Engl J Med. 2007; (3): 248-61
- Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007; (3): 585-607, viii
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2006; (4): 336-7
- Child Dev. 2005 Jul-Aug; (4): 856-68
- Pediatr Rev. 2005; (4): 131-42
- Pediatrics. 2005; (6): e749-57
- N Engl J Med. 2005; (6): 576-86
- Disabil Rehabil. 2005; (17): 977-83
- Disabil Rehabil. 2004; (6): 353-61
- Child Dev. 2003 Mar-Apr; (2): 346-57
- Brain Lang. 2003; (2): 241-52
- J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2003; (2): 273-87
- Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003; (4): 309-14
- Brain Lang. 2002; (2): 335-52
- Pediatrics. 2001; (3): E43
- N Engl J Med. 2001; (16): 1179-87
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2001; (2 Suppl): S99-103
- Child Dev. 2000 Mar-Apr; (2): 310-22
- Pediatrics. 2000; (5): 1119-30
- Brain Lang. 2000; (3): 400-31
- Dev Neuropsychol. 2000; (2): 139-69
- Pediatrics. 1999; (2): 521-3
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1999; (2): 111-6
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999; (5): 587-93
- Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1999; (4): 669-82
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1999; (3): 181-6
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999; (7): 805-12
- Pediatrics. 1999; (4): e52
- J Speech Lang Hear Res. 1999; (6): 1432-43
- Pediatrics. 1999; (6): 1264-73
- Pediatrics. 1999; (5 Pt 1): 1145-8
- J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1998; (4): 269-77
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997; (11): 1570-8
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1997; (6): 371-6
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1995; (2): 223-31
- Soc Work Health Care. 1995; (1): 107-27
- J Commun Disord. 1994; (2): 107-33
- J Commun Disord. 1994; (2): 71-90
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1994; (8): 1185-93
- J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1994; (3): 267-80
- Am J Dis Child. 1993; (2): 211-5
- J Commun Disord. 1992 Apr-Jun; (2-3): 125-42
- Am J Ment Retard. 1992; (2): 222-34
- Brain Lang. 1992; (1): 89-102
- J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1992; (3): 455-61
- J Child Lang. 1992; (2): 473-80
- Pediatrics. 1991; (4): 549-55
- Pediatr Neurol. 1990 Sep-Oct; (5): 296-302
- J Speech Hear Disord. 1989; (3): 395-402
- Pediatrics. 1988; (3): 339-44
- J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1986; (5): 281-7