Prof. Dr. Santosh Kondekar is a well-known Developmental Neuro Pediatrician from Mumbai, India, widely recognized for his passionate and goal-directed work in Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, developmental delay, learning disability, cerebral palsy and pediatric epilepsy.

Over the last more than a decade, he has worked extensively with children having neurodevelopmental and behavioral challenges and has developed a unique identity among parents across India and internationally because of his strongly cognition-oriented and relationship-based developmental approach.

Dr. Kondekar is especially known for his "Goal Directed Cognitive Approach" in autism intervention, which emphasizes development of :

  • Common sense
  • Communication
  • Emotional connection
  • Social understanding
  • Listening
  • Cognition
  • Meaningful interaction

before excessive dependence on mechanical activity-based or sensory-only interventions.

His central developmental philosophy is :

"Training the body without cognitively training the brain is mechanical training."

He strongly advocates that communication and socialization develop primarily through :

  • Human connection
  • Face-to-Face interaction
  • Emotional reciprocity
  • Listening
  • Velationship building.

His work focuses on helping children become :

  • Socially interactive
  • Communicative
  • School-ready
  • Emotionally connected
  • Behaviorally organized
  • Functionally independent.

Academic Qualifications :

  • MBBS
  • MD Pediatrics
  • DNB Pediatrics
  • Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology & Epilepsy
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Developmental Neurology
  • FAIMER Fellowship (Medical Education & Research)

Current Position :

  • Additional Professor of Pediatrics
  • TN Medical College & BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai

Areas of Expertise :

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • ADHD
  • Speech Delay
  • Behavioral Disorders
  • Learning Disability
  • Pediatric Epilepsy
  • Developmental Delay
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • School Readiness Difficulties
  • Cognitive & Social Communication Disorders

Clinical Philosophy :

Dr. Kondekar believes that the priority in child development should be :

  • Connection
  • Communication
  • Cognition
  • Common Sense
  • Social Understanding
  • Functional Independence

rather than merely repetitive task performance or excessive activity-based training.

His approach integrates :

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Cognitive Development
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Family-Centered Guidance
  • Goal-Oriented Neurodevelopmental Intervention

Academic Contributions :

Dr. Kondekar has published multiple conceptual articles and developmental frameworks related to:

  • Autism
  • Attention
  • Communication
  • Common Sense Development
  • Behavioral Regulation
  • Cognitive Learning
  • Developmental Neurology

Consultation Services :

Dr. Kondekar consults children from various cities across India and abroad for :

  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Speech Delay
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Behavioral Concerns
  • Epilepsy
  • Developmental Neurology

He conducts regular consultation visits to multiple cities and is known for long-term developmental guidance and parent training.

Core Message :

"Children do not need only activities.
They need understanding, communication, emotional connection and meaningful human relationships."