Awareness
85% of your child Brain is developed by the age of 5 years
If you notice any below mentioned signs in your child during early years (from 18 months to 7 years), online development screening is essential.
- No eye contact or unusual eye contact.
- Babbling or speaking in one word or holding caregiver’s hand to reach objects to fulfill his or her need.
- When called by name, he or she doesn’t respond to or responds selectively to family members only.
- Not attentive during conversations, seems uninterested.
- Talk to themselves, plays alone, runs aimlessly, doesn’t mingle with peers
- Gross motor and fine motor delay.
Prevalence of Autism
CDC increases estimate of autism’s prevalence by 15 percent, to 1 in 59 children
Approximately 15% of children have developmental delays. This is apparent even in the early years but many parents adopt the “wait & watch” approach or they may not even be aware of the delay. A lot of valuable time is lost be delaying identification of developmental delays.
Developmental screening is a short test which will provide information on whether the child is acquiring skills at age appropriate rates. Children who do not meet age appropriate milestones can then be referred for an in-depth assessment to determine the nature and extent of the developmental delay. This will enable parents to address the delays through early intervention.
Early intervention is the services that will address the difficulties the child is facing and will be specific to the nature of the difficulty. These services may be provided by developmental psychologists, special educators, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or speech therapists. Early intervention will minimize the difficulties faced by the child due to the developmental delays and it will also promote optimum development. It can prevent academic difficulties which may arise later. It is the child’s best hope for his future and may even avert any eventual disability.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
As per Government of India Act pertaining to “THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES , 2016” (NO. 49 OF 2016), Chapter V Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation, 25 -2-c says Screen all the children at least once in a year for the purpose of identifying “at-risk” cases.