Dr. Pesch's research focuses on developmental and behavioral outcomes of children born with congenital cytomegalovirus, a common "cold" virus that can cause hearing loss and other delays. She also examines how mothers' feeding and eating behaviors may influence their children's risk of excess weight gain.

Her clinical practice focuses on young children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and hearing loss, with a special interest in congenital CMV.