Dear parents,
We at Udbhaas Child Development Clinic, are planning a very interesting session for all parents with kids on the autism spectrum, on 5th November, 2011
We are most privileged to have with us Dr Mathew Bellmonte as a guest speaker. He is a scientist from the United States, doing genuine research on autism. He will be discussing issues on autistic behaviour. We earnestly feel that he will have lots to offer us, which will help us to handle and help our special kids in a better manner.
Please register early for participation. Kindly contact at 98300 05780 for further details.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
Special Assessment & Therapy Sessions
for Children with
• Autism
• Behavioural Problems
• Cognitive Developmental Delay
Through PLAY & BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
By
Ms Sowmya Kuduvalli [Bangalore]
(Developmental Psychologist)
Dates: 22nd, 23rd & 24th January, 2011
Venue: UDBHAAS,
22M Srinath Mukherjee Lane,
Kolkata-700030
Contact us:
• Phone Nos: 9883264437, 9830005780
• Email: chatterjeenandita@gmail.com,
Slots limited
PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
2-DAY WORKSHOP
For Parents & Care-givers
On
Home-based Management for AUTISM
Conducted by:
Ms Sowmya Kuduvalli [Bangalore]
Dr. Nandita Chatterjee [Kolkata]
Dates: 25th &26th January 2010
Time: 10:00AM- 4:00 PM
Venue:
UDBHAAS, 22M Srinath Mukherjee Lane,
Kolkata-700030
Contact us:
• Phone Nos: 9883264437, 9830005780
• Email: chatterjeenandita@gmail.com,
Seats limited
PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Saturday, December 18, 2010
'DOWNS SYNDROME’ WONT LET YOU DOWN
The new parents stare at the baby with awe. The tiny baby in the crib seems to be a bundle of despair. What was it the doctors said? This baby will never be the child we were dreaming about? She has some terrible disease called Downs Syndrome…. She won’t be NORMAL, she will be RETARDED & slow to learn. she may be an IDIOT… what a shattering experience.
Very often, this is the first impact we give to the parents when a baby is born with Down’s Syndrome, these are the cruel words we bombard them with, notwithstanding the terrible impact they create. And ‘we’ means all of us, doctors, nurses, friends, neighbours, relatives, etc, etc. Unfortunately, neither do we have the knowledge and awareness about Down’s syndrome, nor are we sensitive to the feelings of the awe-stricken parents.
So, let us take a look at the real scenario, which is not that awful at all! This tiny baby in the crib is just as cute and just as promising as any other baby. Only thing is that she has an extra chromosome21 in her cells, that gives her 47 chromosomes to a cell. This causes some differences in her appearance and her system too.
The appearance though characteristic, maybe very sweet too. A very loveable baby with a sweet smile and very supple limbs is the common look. One cannot resist loving this baby.
Their brain development may be somewhat different, which often make them slow learners, but the good part is that most often their intelligence is just mildly deficient. Though early development may be slow, they do eventually learn to sit, stand , walk and run, as any other child. So with talking.
What the doctor should alert the parents about is the possible medical problems that may be associated, because timely detection and early management can save a lot of complications. So you may need to get some blood tests, X-rays, Echo-cardiography etc done as per your doctor’s advice. Be on the alert for constipation, cough and cold, difficult breathing and any other physical ailment and consult your doctor promptly.
Early intervention is very important for these babies’ proper development. Physiotherapy, play and behavior therapy, speech therapy and special education programs are all very essential to bring out the best in a child with Downs Syndrome.
What is the best that a child with Downs Syndrome can achieve? Most often they can live an independent life, with just a little support. They can often complete school education and train in various skills including fine arts and sports. Their special keenness in music and suppleness of limbs give them an extra edge.Often enough,we hear of a person with Downs Syndrome performing very well in his/her field.
Look at my supple joints
As a baby they are easy to handle and least fussy. They grow into cheerful, sociable kids, easy to mix and make friends easily. Even as adults they remain simple, soft and gentle… a trait so rare in today’s world.
So parents, be proud you have a child with that extra gene. Though a Downs, he will not let you down if you take proper care of him. And he deserves that extra care and affection too.
Life IS Amusing !
Saturday, September 25, 2010
DEVI DURGA…A myth? An idol? Or a Realisation?
Durga Puja comes each year, not only in Bengal, but to all Bengalis round the globe. Durga Puja is a festival of lights, colours, pomp, gifts and mirth. But what all this revolves around is the Goddess Durga, whom we often prefer to overlook. What attachment could the modern man have with this gorgeous, yet peculiar looking idol, after all? ‘A feminine figure with ten hands, on a lion’s back, dressed like a warrior, fighting a demon is a bit primitive, isn’t it? All a madman’s imagination, nothing realistic or pertinent about it. So, just don’t bother.’…that’s the common attitude.
Take a closer look. Is it just a mere idol with some wild myth behind it? At a quieter moment why does it still capture our eyes? What is there in that posture, that expression? Don’t we sense an emanation of strength & energy from the figure? What has kept us glued to this idol for hundreds of years?
Lets delve into the age-old story and look for some relevance to today’s modern life and society.
We find the tale of Devi Durga described in vivid details in the well-known ‘Sri Sri Chandi’, a book of 700 verses in Sanskrit, which is often chanted at various Hindu rituals. But who ever thought it was actually a thriller with Devi Durga as the central character?
All through it’s a fight with the demons… countless demons in various forms and attires. They are all immensely strong and powerful warriors armed with the best of weapons. Whom do these demons represent? None but the evil in us… the evil in society, the evil propensities hidden within ourselves.
Devi Durga is seen to fight this eternal battle against these demons. Now where does she come from? Is she a imaginary princess or angel? No. Durga is conceived as the total amalgamation of all the strength & power of all the Gods in Hindu mythology, i.e., all virtues put together. As the story goes, the Gods were being tormented by the demons, who were overwhelming them in power. So all the Gods projected all their strength to one point, and this concentrated energy evolved into a gorgeous feminine figure- the Goddess Durga. All the Gods now offered their special weapons to her. Devi Durga now stood as a personification of eternal strength & energy of all that is good & virtuous.
To come back to reality, are we not constantly fighting the battle of right against wrong, good against evil, love against contempt, truth against false? And aren’t we mostly drawn towards the wrong side, as that’s always the stronger force? To stick to the right path calls for an enormous effort & fight, doesn’t it? Its only when we concentrate fully on our conscience, bringing all good senses together, we can fight the sinister temptations from within and out. So ‘Devi Durga’ fighting the ‘Mahisasur’ is literally a picturization of our day-to-day battle. Interesting, right?
Well, if it is just a battle where good wins over bad, it should be a short story like an Aesop’s fable. What is there in the 700 verses? Let’s read on.
In one of the preludes to the story ‘Devi Kabacha’ we find a detailed account of where Durga or Chandi may be found. Her presence is not just in the idol, that’s just a representation. She resides in every corner and every element of the universe, as well as in every organ & every cell in our bodies. She resides even in our mind, intellect & senses, our family and material possessions, our path and goal. So, the eternal power of virtue is omnipresent. What a relief & solace to feel that goodness does prevail all around!
But, then why should injustice, criminality, wrongdoing be so rampant? The answer comes clear. Greed, envy & wickedness has always existed and will continue to exist. We have to cultivate the goodness to fight it all. If you pack up your conscience and store it in your fridge safely, immorality is going to prevail, because it is mighty strong. It will attack you repeatedly in different disguises, unless you are constantly vigilant. To make this point clear the great story teller describes a number of battles fought by Devi Durga with different demons in different situations, each highlighting on a very practical situation of our lives.
In the story of’ Mahisasura’, we find him coming with his huge battalion, armed in an array of weapons, whom the Devi has to fight & defeat meticulously. Then ‘Mahisasur’ enters the battle himself, constantly changing himself, from a man to a bull, an elephant, a lion and back to a man. Just as temptation comes to us in various guises. After a prolonged and fierce battle, finally the demon is slain. So slaying the demon of temptations is not accomplished by a touch of a wand. ‘Winning over temptations calls for a very strong will power and conviction and a constant vigilant fight coupled with a lot of sacrifice’ is the down-to-earth moral of this story.
Another thriller is the battle with’ Rakta Bija’. This demon had the unique power of reproducing his own replica from every drop of blood he shed. So, hit one Rakta Bija, you get thousands more, he goes on breeding. Isn’t this a very apt analogy to perjury? One lie begets thousands more, you just can’t stop. To get out of it you have to just nip it in the bud. That’s exactly what we see in the tale, where ‘Chamunda” or ‘Kali’, another form of Durga gulps down every drop of blood that is shed while Devi Durga slays him.
Then comes the story of ‘Shumbha-Nishumbha’, the very powerful demon brothers. Here we get an answer to our doubts about so many gods & goddesses in the Hindu Mythology. While fighting this battle Devi Chandika gives rise various forms like Koushiki, Ambika and Chamunda. The power or ‘Shakti’ of all the other Gods like Brahma, Bishnu, Maheswar etc emanate out as their corresponding feminine forms and join in the battle. Together they fight it out and ultimately kill Nishumbha. At this Shumbha taunts the Devi saying, ’Do not brag of your victory. You need to take help from so many to fight my brother alone.’ Then comes the clarification from the Devi, which clears our doubts on plurality and omnipresence, ‘I alone reign in this universe. Who else is there but me?’ With this She withdraws all other Goddesses into herself. Devi Durga depicts the omnipresent, eternal strength & power, not an individual. This power is within each of us and is manifested differently according to needs. Energy is one, its manifestations are many.
So friends, lets enjoy the ensuing Durga Puja, let’s celebrate, but let’s also spare a minute to look into the eyes of Devi Durga with reverence to revive our own strength to survive honestly and morally. Let that be our realization.’ Durge Devi Namahstute”
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Back to Autism: A Quick Glance
FACTS PARENTS WANT TO KNOW
What is Autism?
Autism is developmental disorder that generally becomes evident by the third year of life. It causes impairment or disturbance in three main areas:
Poor Social skills
Poor Communication (verbal & non-verbal)
Repetitive and restricted behaviors.
Abnormal responses to sensations.
All these difficulties manifest in altered behaviour i.e. abnormal ways of relating to people, objects and the environment. Autism is known as a ‘spectrum disorder,’ because the severity of symptoms ranges from a mild learning and social disability to a severe impairment, with multiple problems and highly unusual behavior. The disorder may occur alone, or with accompanying problems such as mental retardation or seizures.
Autism is not a rare disorder, being the third most common developmental disorder. Typically, about 2 out of 1000 children may have autistic symptoms. 80% of those affected by autism are boys.
Autism is found throughout the world, in families of all economic, social, and racial backgrounds.
What is a child with autism like?
A child with high functioning autism may have a normal or high I.Q., be able to attend a regular school and hold a job later in life. However, this person may have difficulty expressing himself and may not know how to mix with other people. Moderately and more seriously affected children with autism will vary widely. Some autistic children do not ever develop speech, while others may develop speech but still have difficulty using language to communicate. Often, there is an unusual speech pattern, such as echoing whatever is said to them, repeating a word over and over, reversing "you" and "I" when asking for something, and speaking only to express needs, rather than emotions.
A child with autism looks just like any other child, but has distinctive behaviour patterns. A child who is autistic may enjoy rocking or spinning either himself or other objects, and may be happy to repeat the same activity for a long period of time. At other times, the child may move very quickly from one activity to another, and may appear to be hyperactive. Many autistic children have sensitivity to certain sounds or touch, and at other times, may appear not to hear anything at all. Autistic children may have very limited pretend play; they may not play appropriately with toys or may prefer to play with objects which are not toys. Autistic children may be able to do some things, like sing songs or recite rhymes very well, but may not be able to do things requiring social skills very well.
How is autism diagnosed?
There are no medical or genetic tests to detect autism. A diagnosis of autism requires a sensitive and experienced doctor to observe the child very carefully, ask the parents about the development of the child, and then objectively follow internationally recognized criteria for diagnosis. Onset may occur at birth, or a child may have a period of normal development followed by a deterioration of verbal and social skills around 1 1/2-2 1/2 years. Where onset is at birth, the disorder can be detected as early as one year. Autism may occur alongside conditions such as mental retardation and hyperactivity, but the autistic traits in the person are typically what require attention.
What is the cause of autism?
We still do not know what exactly causes Autism. However, current research indicates that structural or functional damage to the central nervous system can lead to Autism. We know that certain viruses and known genetic conditions are associated with Autism. In addition, there are families that have more than one child with autism. At present, it is believed that about 10% of all cases can be accounted for genetically. It is difficult to tell parents why their child has autism, but it is not caused by an unhappy home environment, both parents working, mental stress during the pregnancy, poor handling by the mother, an emotional trauma, or other psychological factors. You cannot cause a child to become autistic.
Can it be prevented? Can it be cured?
At present, there is no medical cure for autism. The only consistently effective treatment for autism is a supervised structured training program, started early; therefore, a combination of a good school and parent training is very important. Autistic children can make significant progress if the intervention is early, appropriate and consistent. Early intervention, before the child is three, is especially crucial to the child’s progress. This is why an early and accurate diagnosis is so important
How is it different from Mental Retardation?
In mental retardation there is equal lag in all segments of mental development, e.g., motor, communication, social, self-help, cognition etc. In Autism, there is an uneven skill development-- in some areas the child may show age-appropriate skills, in some the skills may be below average and again, in some areas exceptional skills may also be seen.
Can the child ever live an independent life?
Children with Autism have potential for building up their skills and they can be helped if they receive early, well-focused intervention. Depending on the child's individual skill profile and the appropriateness and intensity of intervention he or she receives, children with Autism can lead relatively independent lives.
What are the chances of his going to a regular school?
Autistic children can be integrated into regular schools, with the support of special education facilities. Most children with Autism have different learning styles from regular children and therefore teaching styles also need to be different. The chances of main-streaming depend on several factors, like, the child’s skill profile, early diagnosis and effective early intervention.
Will my child ever speak? When?
A large member of autistic children (about 30-50%) do not use speech. It is very difficult to say when and whether the child will ever speak. It is confirmed that there is no difficulty in their physical abilities to speak, but it is their lack of initiative to communicate that stops them from speaking. Some children who might have spoken as infants and then lost their speech may or may not get their speech back. Currently, it is unknown why some children develop speech and others do not. Experience with children with autism has shown that if the environment is accepting, and people are aware of the kind of speech they themselves need to use with the child, it can produce positive results.
Can Speech Therapy help?
Speech Therapy can help some children. It is absolutely essential for the speech therapist to understand Autism and the individual child. However, every child with autism can benefit from interventions that help build communication skills, verbal and non-verbal.
Why is he hyperactive?
Most children with Autism are restless because of an impairment of their imaginative and social skills. They cannot play with toys or other children meaningfully and find it very difficult to occupy themselves and become restless. Hyperactivity can be reduced as the children are taught new skills to keep themselves occupied.
Why does he keep playing with his fingers/ rocking himself back and forth/ spinning around etc?
Children with Autism respond to sensations differently. These unusual mannerisms like flapping and rocking etc. are natural responses or methods of coping with their sensory difficulties. These behaviours may help them to relax.
Is there any hostel for such children?
In India there are few hostels for people with mental disabilities and ones exclusively for autistic individuals do not exist here. In the early years of development, it is important for an autistic child to live and grow in a home environment. As the child grows up, he can be trained to live in a group home but it is very important for the autistic people living in such homes also to integrate with society in general and not just be abandoned in a home or hostel.
Are people with Autism also mentally retarded?
It is very difficult for people with autism to take an IQ test because they may have certain skills but are not able to use them or exhibit them in a test. About 50% of people with autism are also mentally retarded. Autism can occur in association with other difficulties like Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Downs Syndrome, Visual Impairment, and Seizure Disorder.
What is Autism?
Autism is developmental disorder that generally becomes evident by the third year of life. It causes impairment or disturbance in three main areas:
Poor Social skills
Poor Communication (verbal & non-verbal)
Repetitive and restricted behaviors.
Abnormal responses to sensations.
All these difficulties manifest in altered behaviour i.e. abnormal ways of relating to people, objects and the environment. Autism is known as a ‘spectrum disorder,’ because the severity of symptoms ranges from a mild learning and social disability to a severe impairment, with multiple problems and highly unusual behavior. The disorder may occur alone, or with accompanying problems such as mental retardation or seizures.
Autism is not a rare disorder, being the third most common developmental disorder. Typically, about 2 out of 1000 children may have autistic symptoms. 80% of those affected by autism are boys.
Autism is found throughout the world, in families of all economic, social, and racial backgrounds.
What is a child with autism like?
A child with high functioning autism may have a normal or high I.Q., be able to attend a regular school and hold a job later in life. However, this person may have difficulty expressing himself and may not know how to mix with other people. Moderately and more seriously affected children with autism will vary widely. Some autistic children do not ever develop speech, while others may develop speech but still have difficulty using language to communicate. Often, there is an unusual speech pattern, such as echoing whatever is said to them, repeating a word over and over, reversing "you" and "I" when asking for something, and speaking only to express needs, rather than emotions.
A child with autism looks just like any other child, but has distinctive behaviour patterns. A child who is autistic may enjoy rocking or spinning either himself or other objects, and may be happy to repeat the same activity for a long period of time. At other times, the child may move very quickly from one activity to another, and may appear to be hyperactive. Many autistic children have sensitivity to certain sounds or touch, and at other times, may appear not to hear anything at all. Autistic children may have very limited pretend play; they may not play appropriately with toys or may prefer to play with objects which are not toys. Autistic children may be able to do some things, like sing songs or recite rhymes very well, but may not be able to do things requiring social skills very well.
How is autism diagnosed?
There are no medical or genetic tests to detect autism. A diagnosis of autism requires a sensitive and experienced doctor to observe the child very carefully, ask the parents about the development of the child, and then objectively follow internationally recognized criteria for diagnosis. Onset may occur at birth, or a child may have a period of normal development followed by a deterioration of verbal and social skills around 1 1/2-2 1/2 years. Where onset is at birth, the disorder can be detected as early as one year. Autism may occur alongside conditions such as mental retardation and hyperactivity, but the autistic traits in the person are typically what require attention.
What is the cause of autism?
We still do not know what exactly causes Autism. However, current research indicates that structural or functional damage to the central nervous system can lead to Autism. We know that certain viruses and known genetic conditions are associated with Autism. In addition, there are families that have more than one child with autism. At present, it is believed that about 10% of all cases can be accounted for genetically. It is difficult to tell parents why their child has autism, but it is not caused by an unhappy home environment, both parents working, mental stress during the pregnancy, poor handling by the mother, an emotional trauma, or other psychological factors. You cannot cause a child to become autistic.
Can it be prevented? Can it be cured?
At present, there is no medical cure for autism. The only consistently effective treatment for autism is a supervised structured training program, started early; therefore, a combination of a good school and parent training is very important. Autistic children can make significant progress if the intervention is early, appropriate and consistent. Early intervention, before the child is three, is especially crucial to the child’s progress. This is why an early and accurate diagnosis is so important
How is it different from Mental Retardation?
In mental retardation there is equal lag in all segments of mental development, e.g., motor, communication, social, self-help, cognition etc. In Autism, there is an uneven skill development-- in some areas the child may show age-appropriate skills, in some the skills may be below average and again, in some areas exceptional skills may also be seen.
Can the child ever live an independent life?
Children with Autism have potential for building up their skills and they can be helped if they receive early, well-focused intervention. Depending on the child's individual skill profile and the appropriateness and intensity of intervention he or she receives, children with Autism can lead relatively independent lives.
What are the chances of his going to a regular school?
Autistic children can be integrated into regular schools, with the support of special education facilities. Most children with Autism have different learning styles from regular children and therefore teaching styles also need to be different. The chances of main-streaming depend on several factors, like, the child’s skill profile, early diagnosis and effective early intervention.
Will my child ever speak? When?
A large member of autistic children (about 30-50%) do not use speech. It is very difficult to say when and whether the child will ever speak. It is confirmed that there is no difficulty in their physical abilities to speak, but it is their lack of initiative to communicate that stops them from speaking. Some children who might have spoken as infants and then lost their speech may or may not get their speech back. Currently, it is unknown why some children develop speech and others do not. Experience with children with autism has shown that if the environment is accepting, and people are aware of the kind of speech they themselves need to use with the child, it can produce positive results.
Can Speech Therapy help?
Speech Therapy can help some children. It is absolutely essential for the speech therapist to understand Autism and the individual child. However, every child with autism can benefit from interventions that help build communication skills, verbal and non-verbal.
Why is he hyperactive?
Most children with Autism are restless because of an impairment of their imaginative and social skills. They cannot play with toys or other children meaningfully and find it very difficult to occupy themselves and become restless. Hyperactivity can be reduced as the children are taught new skills to keep themselves occupied.
Why does he keep playing with his fingers/ rocking himself back and forth/ spinning around etc?
Children with Autism respond to sensations differently. These unusual mannerisms like flapping and rocking etc. are natural responses or methods of coping with their sensory difficulties. These behaviours may help them to relax.
Is there any hostel for such children?
In India there are few hostels for people with mental disabilities and ones exclusively for autistic individuals do not exist here. In the early years of development, it is important for an autistic child to live and grow in a home environment. As the child grows up, he can be trained to live in a group home but it is very important for the autistic people living in such homes also to integrate with society in general and not just be abandoned in a home or hostel.
Are people with Autism also mentally retarded?
It is very difficult for people with autism to take an IQ test because they may have certain skills but are not able to use them or exhibit them in a test. About 50% of people with autism are also mentally retarded. Autism can occur in association with other difficulties like Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Downs Syndrome, Visual Impairment, and Seizure Disorder.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)