CRUCIAL FIRST STEPS
Parental denial is keeping children with special needs from getting help. Those early months are vital, doctors say. So for the sake of the child, don’t listen to people who tell you ‘he’ll catch up’ or ‘just give it time’
At what point do you admit that something is seriously amiss. It’s not an easy call to make, but developmental experts are saying that parental denial is hampering diagnosis, and treatment, of children with special needs. Ninam was diagnosed with autism at 18 months; he is now nearly 3. His mother Sarita
Lama is vehement that parents need to open up to the special needs of their child. “Unless you change, society won’t,” she says.
Early signs that a child may need special care include babies not making eye contact, not responding to people by smiling or gesticulating, delayed speech, focusing intently on something to the exclusion of others for long periods, or making repetitive movements, such as rocking and twirling.
“Four As — awareness, acceptance, action and acknowledgement — are the pillars crucial to supporting differently abled kids. It is very important to empower parents, especially mothers, as they are usually the ones taking care of the child all day,” says Dr Deepak Gupta, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
Identifying the right therapy centre takes time as it is, so the quicker one acts the better.
“Getting the right help at an early stage can change the trajectory of the child’s development and future success in learning and socialisation,” says Jackie Harland, clinical director at the London Learning Centre (LLC) in New Delhi.
“It is hard to see children whom you know would make significant progress with the right help, not receiving that support. With the right programme, all children can make progress.”
Three young Delhi mothers share their journeys, from symptoms through diagnoses and finding the right therapy for their babies.