Pre-, Peri-, and Postnatal (pregnancy and birth)
Upper and Lower Airway (breathing)
Obesity
(body weight)
Neurodevelopment (brain development)
Positive Health
(well-being)Brain Development
ECHO researchers use data from more than 64,000 diverse children and their families across the U.S. to examine how much factors such as chemical exposures, environmental hazards, social stressors, maternal health during pregnancy, and other considerations may influence neurodevelopment.
ECHO Discovery
Webinar Recordings
Prenatal Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Autism: New Insight from ECHO Cohorts
Neurodevelopment Resources
CDC: Children's Mental Health
Shares articles on child mental health, including information on emotional development and child mental health disorders.
MedlinePlus: School-Age Children Development
Provides information on the development of school-age children, including physical development, behavior, language development, and parenting tips.
QUESTIONS
For more information, please email the NIH at NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.
For media inquiries or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager at rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.
How ECHO Advances Research on Children's Neurodevelopment
The prenatal period and childhood are critical times for brain development or neurodevelopment, but this important process continues during adolescence until early adulthood. Understanding the associations between environmental factors and neurodevelopmental outcomes can inform prevention efforts, interventions, and other strategies to enhance child health.
Healthy brain development is key for cognitive, physical, and social functioning. ECHO research can help explain the factors that impact neurodevelopment in children and how neurodevelopment might have additional effects on other health outcomes. This research can help inform programs, policies, and practices that address health differences from the beginning, promoting a lifetime of good health that continues for generations.
What We're Learning
Since its launch, the ECHO Program has published more than 2,000 research articles on a wide range of child health topics. Within this body of work, many studies have examined neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Here are some research highlights:
Toddler Emotional and Behavioral Problems Decreased Slightly During Pandemic, ECHO Study Finds
September 2025
Children who grew up during the pandemic showed slightly fewer emotional and behavioral problems than those born before it.
Exposure to Common Flame-retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy May Be Associated with Behavioral Issues in Young Children, ECHO Study Finds
August 2025
Prenatal exposure to certain flame retardant chemicals, including BBOEP and BCPP, was linked to more emotional and behavioral problems in some young children.
Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates, But Not Phthalate Replacements, Linked to Children’s Behavior, ECHO Study Finds
August 2025
Higher prenatal levels of certain phthalates were linked to small increases in aggression and attention problems in young children, with effects varying by sex and neighborhood, while other phthalates and replacements showed no clear associations.
Executive Functioning May Be Connected to Child Health Behaviors, ECHO Cohort Study Suggests
January 2025
Across all age groups, children with higher working memory also had more health-promoting eating behaviors, such as less frequent intake of sugary drinks and saturated fats.
Children with Autism Are More Likely to Experience Emotional & Behavioral Challenges Like Anxiety, Depression, & ADHD, ECHO Study Suggests
January 2025
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) generally had higher Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores, indicating a possible link to greater emotional and behavioral challenges.