Improve Attention
Friday, October 17, 2008
¥ The task that you are teaching the child should be simplified into number of steps. All small steps should be talked about and demonstrated to the child.
¥ Make the activity challenging. Children like challenges and same with autistic child. This is what called right challenge because if the task is less challenging the child become bored of it and if it is too challenging the task becomes difficult and child gets frustrated.
¥ Design those activities in which your child has interest. If require, take the professional help. Make a list of the child strengths and weakness and then use it for e.g. if child likes to do painting. Make him do painting with different colours. First, let him scribble and then assist them to write big alphabets. And them use of colour pencils etc. start up from the point which he already knows and then use them for further expansion. For e.g. if child likes making block tower, ask him to make the tower of different shapes and talk teach about the shape.
¥ Most of Autistic children have sensory issues which are major obstacles for child to develop fine motor skills. Talk to your Early interventionist or Occupational therapist who can assess the child for sensory issue and can plan for the sensory diet.
¥ Shoulder stability is another concern for most of the Autistic children. Make the child to do some exercise or activities for shoulder strengthening and also for back extensors. This helps in developing the correct position and child would be more comfortable and
attentive.
¥ Minimise the external distraction. Child should sit in a corner on a comfortable chair. Make his sitting arrangement proper so that he can see clearly.
¥ Try to make the activities fun filled. Don’t enforce activities on him rather let the child participate in the activity.
¥ If the child goes to school, parents are advice to have a track of class work so that parents can follow the same. Don’t try to teach the child different thing together.
¥ Try to communicate with the child and listen to the child. Find out his interest areas and note them down. You can teach lots of concept with a single area of interest. For e.g. Child likes cars talk about the colour of cars, number of cars or play with the car with child. Make the activity little happening. If require take professionals help.
¥ Reinforce the child for every good activity that he learnt or attempt to learn.
¥ Don’t force your child every time for Eye contact. If they do, encourage them. If they don’t then don’t punish them. For many autistic people eye contact causes intense anxiety and makes communication more difficult. Even if they don’t look at you that know what is happening around them. Use indirect method like pretend that you are enjoying the activity and talk to them about the activity and encourage them to participate but again don’t force them to do the activity.
¥ Relax the child before you start teaching him the activity. Reduce the hyperactivity with the sensory integration. Consult to Early interventionist for relaxing techniques like massage, deep pressure or vestibular stimulation. Most of the children relax after therapy and that time can be use to teach the child. During sensory integration activities you can teach a lot of concepts like numbers, alphabets, fine motor skills but using different textured surface or material.
¥ Make the environment structured and predictable. Start telling the child earlier itself what are you planning to do or teach him today.
¥ Commands should be clear, short and firm.
¥ Create the need and provide opportunities to the child to communicate with you. Like keep his toys out of reach but under his vision. Give him work “I want help” or “I want toy”. Even if child looks at the object tell him the expected communication.
¥ Make a chart of his problem and good behaviour. Paste his pictures of good behaviour and show him how to behave. The children with auditory problem understand little of your command. Picture can show clearly what is expected to them
¥ Generally, children become active or hyperactive in the crowded place. If you child does not like to go into crowded place, avoid it but even if required try to make him comfortable by holding his hand firmly and make him stand in less crowded area.
¥ Puzzles and plays where the shape are being put or the elder children video games or manual games where the object has to fit helps in developing spatial orientation.
¥ Closing the eyes and asking about the objects and then showcasing and telling about the property of the object helps in perceptual development. For e.g. feelie box.
¥ Brain gym activities. Link to brain gym
¥ Story telling with lots of action items in it.
¥ Make the command simple and rhythmic and try to teach in form of rhymes.
Posted byNeeti at 6:37 PM 1 comments
Labels: autism
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
As per WHO definition of health “it is the state of well being both physically and mentally”. Equal importance has been given to both the mental and physical well being. But, according to survey it is found that people in developing or under developed countries devote approx 1% of the total revenues in mental heath. Consequently, mental health policies, legislation, community care facilities, and treatments for people with mental illness are not given the priority they deserve. Other barriers are poor awareness, lack of early detection, and knowledge of benefits of treatment, stigma and taboo on psychiatric help. In general policy makers and public both neglect the psychiatric help or mental health. The prevalence of mental illness is not found correctly as people don’t go for right institutions for treatment or documentation. Either they run away from their home or they are locked in their home with the label “pagal”
Every child, woman or man have a right to achieve high level of mental and physical health. This is enshrined in our Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
There is stigma attached to the psychiatric help. People hesitate to take help or consultation from a psychiatrist. I have recently found that people are open for psychologist help than a psychiatric help. There is still a marked denial among population. Few super speciality centres and high cost of services don’t let the services reach to people easily. Those centres which claim to be Rehabilitation centres are more or less Residential institutes. Family members relax once they hand over a person with psychiatric problem to a centre and then whole responsibility of centre. Moreover, the centres are very few as per the population of mentally ill they have to cater the need.
Other common problem is poor awareness among general public about the difference between mentally handicapped or mentally ill. Unfortunately, most the time people confuse and consider them same. Other problem is the presentation of mental problem. It is presented as behaviour than physical symptoms and the behaviour is hard to grade especially when it is mild or moderate.
There is a whole list of problems that require psychiatric help. Most common are depression, suicidal attacks, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia etc. other conditions which do require psychiatric help are Autism, Childhood disintegrated syndrome, Anorexia, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders etc. It is required to give the psychiatric help to the criminal and victims or crime like rape, murder, incest, paedophiles etc. those people who remained deprive during their childhood with love and guidance feel insecure and isolated and they are at risk or prone to involve in crimes or become victims.
The children sometimes do need psychiatric help because of their behaviour or emotional disturbances. Many known conditions are Autism, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome), PICA and Enuresis (bed wetting) and Encopresis (bed soiling). In this competitive world children are overstressed by high standards of education and parent’s expectation. For scoring high marks and carrying the high expectation of their own and parents put them under pressure. Many of them can’t withstand that pressure and fails.
Tips to help your own
| Observe your child behaviour and ask about his behaviour to teachers in the school. It is equally important to academics. Ask about his friends, his interaction in class and his attention to studies. If child is above 10 yr, talk to the child directly or if the child is too young, talk to your psychologist in school or psychologist. Every child is different and even normal development varies from child to child. Sensory processing, language, and motor skills are developing during early childhood, as well as the ability to relate to parents and to socialize with caregivers and other children. Adolescence is an important phase of life; parents should keep an eye during this period on child. Talk feely to child about his concerns and ensure him that you are always there for him.
| Be observant for the stress signs like staying alone, bedwetting, aggressive, reduction in food intake or sadness.
| Sometime the child gets molested by stranger or known person. Observe the signs of fearfulness, signs of physical assault, or strange behaviour.
| Other behaviour like not listening to you, seems in his own world, head banging, purposeless activity or hyperactivity, aggressiveness etc points to serious issues which immediate need medical intervention, consult to psychiatrist,
| Family issues like parents arguments and fights, divorce, death of dear ones or some extreme stress hits, every member of a family, even the youngest ones. This should also be considered when evaluating mental, emotional, or behavioural symptoms in a child
| Create a happy and healthy environment at home. Good education, leisure and love a
ll are important. Parenting does matter.
| Don’t hesitate to consult a psychiatrist
| Parents should understand that every child is different and has to develop like that. Most the child can develop skills of their own interest. Try to find that special area and encourage him for that.
Posted byNeeti at 8:06 PM 0 comments
Labels: awareness, health, medical
VISION FOR ALL… restoration and prevention
Monday, October 6, 2008
Oct 9th is World Sight Day...
On this day i want to share some information about children and their sight....
Vitamin A deficiency, VAD, has been recognized as the leading cause of preventable paediatric blindness in most of developing countries. In last many years, combating Vitamin A deficiency has emerged as cost effective and earliest intervention for saving children sight. VAD, either due to a poor diet or infections that deplete the body's stores or reduce absorption of the vitamin, not only causes blindness, but also needlessly increases the risk of child and maternal morbidity and mortality. Every year, between 250,000 and 500,000 children around the world go blind from a lack of vitamin A in their diet. Seventy percent of these children die within one year of becoming blind. It is estimated that provision of adequate amounts of vitamin A reduces overall child mortality by 23 - 34%.
Child blindness is an important concern because it impacts on the child development, education, future opportunities and quality of life. This handicapped have serious social and economical consequences on family and society.
Vitamin A is needed to keep the outer surface of the eye moist and healthy, as well as for growth and development of a healthy immune system. VAD leads to decreased production of a photosensitive pigment in the rods of the eye, so the level of light needed for vision increases and night blindness results. If the deficiency keep on persisting it would leads to permanent eye dryness and ulceration and with in few days child may loose his vision or sight. This vision loss is irreversible.
Vitamin A dosage is given to children who are screened properly and found vitamin A deficient. But, sometime if the parents are ignorant or are not aware may delay the diagnosis leads to Vitamin A deficiency visual loss. Vitamin A is found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, vegetables like carrot and fruits like papaya. Every child and individual should eat this enriched diet.
Vitamin A deficiency can be prevented by promoting the production and consumption of vitamin A-rich foods through homestead food production, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and community and school gardens. It is very essential to spread awareness about the importance of the Vitamin A and the prevention of its deficiency. The school garden or garden at home can be used by teaching children about production of the Vitamin A. mothers and teachers should be educated about the Vitamin A importance and they should encourage this healthy food practice. Similarly school children should be educated for the prevention of other eye infection and eye injuries during play. Use of clean water to wash the eyes, proper handling, and healthy food can prevent other commoner eye infection. Early detection of refractive eye errors can reduce the child drop out and can improve the child interest in studies.
Repetitive eye check up camps should be conducted by primary health centre or in local school.
Nutrition Education
Nutrition education brings about an awareness in individuals and communities of the need for proper selection of foods and creation of sound eating patterns. Imported food mixtures, injections and capsules do not provide permanent solutions and realistic approaches to the problem of nutritional blindness. Families need to learn to use the foods around them or foods that can be easily introduced and accepted. The frequency of use of milk and milk products, leafy vegetables, raw vegetables and fruits such as papaya and mango had also increased to an appreciable extent after the education programme.
Promotion of
Increased production of vitamin A rich foods through home gardens, school gardens and community gardens can result in increased consumption of vitamin A rich foods and lead to a reduction in the incidence of vitamin A deficiency. The ANP(applied nutritional programme) has a three pronged approach: (a) stepping up the production of protective foods, like green leafy vegetables, fruits and eggs; (b) consumption of protective foods by the vulnerable groups: expectant and nursing mothers and children under five years of age; and (c) nutrition education
(1) Promote the utilization of available space and waste water for the production of 
nutritious foods;
(2) Give pupils skills in gardening;
(3) Promote the health of the pupils through consumption of the garden products, and;
(4) Help to supplement the pocket money of the pupils through sale of the products from their nutrition garden
Posted byNeeti at 10:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: awareness