SHARES
Amy was a very restless child. She couldn’t sit still and was always fidgeting with her things. Her parents overlooked these signs and thought that she was being naughty, and will improve with time. After few months, Amy’s teachers started complaining about her misbehaviour and restlessness. Amy’s parents began to worry and tried everything to improve her behaviour but to no avail.
One day, they received a call from the school counsellor, advising them to take Amy to the nearby Child Counselling Clinic. After multiple sessions with the psychologist, Amy was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and needed behavioural therapy to manage or improve her condition. Amy’s parents supported her and also participated in the therapy sessions. As these symptoms were detected early, Amy responded very well to the therapy and showed positive results.
Amy’s case is just one example in which early detection and proper treatment helped to manage the symptoms of developmental disorders. To learn more about the common signs and symptoms of developmental disorders in children, click here.
Treatments required may vary, depending on the type of developmental disorder. Below are a few common treatments and therapies that are available for special needs kids.
Medication – Different types of medications are available for various disorders. Medicine can be effective in controlling the developmental disorder as it calms the child and helps to manage the behavioural problems. Medication should only be taken when prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Behaviour therapy – In this type of therapy, the counsellor helps the child to organize his/her routine via constant reminders, calendars updates and schedules. Parents can also help by giving constant feedback to their child as a form of motivation and to make them aware of what they are doing.
Training for parents – Parents can also be trained via therapy, to bring out the desired behaviour in their child. They can help their child to discover his or her special talent, and encourage them to pursue it. This increases the child’s self-confidence and self- esteem.
Occupational therapy – In this type of therapy, counsellor encourages and helps the child to perform day-to-day tasks. This therapy cultivates independence and confidence in the child.
However, the aforementioned treatments are not the only treatments used to treat special needs kids. As a parent, if you suspect that your child has developmental delays, then you should consult a medical professional immediately for advice and recommendations.
Source- Institute of Mental Health Singapore
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by Aditi Upadhyay
View all articles by Aditi Upadhyay.
