Knowing Your Child With Special Needs
Updated: Aug 10, 2022
Developmental delay, difficulty in communication, difficulty in attention, hyperactivity can be a sign of a child with special needs. Special need is not a disease, not an illness, it’s a condition that the child is born with. Many a times the symptoms start manifesting after 2 to 3 years of age. It doesn’t confirm that something wrong happened to them at that age, basically this is the age when we get to understand the difference more clearly. Here we would like to help you with the early symptoms of special needs. If you observe either of these symptoms are present, and these symptoms are significantly impacting their growth connect a mental health professional today.
Delay in reaching developmental milestones like crawling, sitting, standing, walking
Difficulty in following instruction
Difficulty in communicating basic needs
Reduced eye contact
Inability to sit at a single place for long
Constantly moving and running around
Reduced sense of pain, danger
Delay in Speech development
Whom to connect if you observe any of the above-mentioned symptoms in your child?
You can connect your nearest Pediatrician
Rehabilitation Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist.
What happens if the child is suspected to have special needs by either of the above mentioned professionals?
Psychological assessment of the child
Medical tests, if required
Once confirmed to have special needs what parents need to do about it?
Get the child admitted to a Special School or an Inclusive School, where the child can be guided by Special Educators
If the child has got communication difficulty, consult a Speech therapist. Difficulty in communication doesn’t necessarily mean if the child can talk or not. Even though a child is verbal it’s important to understand if the child has difficulty in communication
If the child has got sensory needs, get him/her assessed by an Occupational Therapist/Sensory Integration Therapist and if suggested continuing with regular OT sessions.
If your child has difficulty in walking, standing, sitting or any postural challenge consult a Physiotherapist
Consult a Psychiatrist/Neurologist if the child needs any medications for any related condition.
What to expect from this management process?
The management process works slowly
Do not expect a miracle
The improvement happens slowly
After 3 months you can expect to see visible changes in your child
Do not fall for people who commit that they will “cure” your child. Your child is not diseased, s/he needs training to be functionally independent.