Better Life CDC intents to impart training for the overall development of children from the early childhood days to adolescence and to motivate and groom them to become good citizens and also to provide early diagnosis and intervention for developmental delay in children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) Developmental impairment due to Epilepsy, Sensory issues, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning disabilities and such other developmental disorders in areas of physical, mental, language and learning, from birth to adolescence.
Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. While the central feature of CP is a disorder with movement, difficulties with thinking, learning, feeling, communication and behaviour often occur along with Cerebral palsy. It is characterized by abnormal muscle tone, reflexes, or motor development and coordination. The classical symptoms are spasticity, spasms, other involuntary movements, unsteady gait, problems with balance, and/or soft tissue findings consisting largely of decreased muscle mass. Classically, CP becomes evident when the baby reaches the developmental stage at 6 to 9 months and is starting to mobilise, where preferential use of limbs, asymmetry, or gross motor developmental delay is seen. Resulting conditions can include seizures, epilepsy, apraxia, dysarthria or other communication disorders, eating problems, sensory impairments, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and/or behavioural disorders.
Intervention program for Cerebral palsy
Physiotherapy programs are designed to encourage the child to build a strength base for improved gait, together with stretching programs to limit contractures. It helps to maintain muscle tone, bone structure, and prevent dislocation of the joints.
Speech therapy helps control the muscles of the mouth and jaw, and helps improve communication.
Conductive education is a unified system of rehabilitation for children with neurological disorders including cerebral palsy. It improves mobility, self-esteem, stamina and independence as well as daily living skills and social skills. The professional who delivers Conductive education teaches parents also to help the child to apply the skills learned to everyday life which helps to develop age-appropriate cognitive, social and emotional skills.
Biofeedback therapy significantly improves gait in children as the child learns how to control his affected muscles.
Yoga and Massage therapy is designed to help relax tense muscles, strengthen muscles, and keep joints flexible.
Occupational therapy helps children maximise their function, adapt to their limitations and live as independently as possible. A family centred philosophy is used as the Occupational therapists work closely with families in order to address their concerns and priorities for their child.
The Autism Spectrum describes a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopment disorders which encompass autism, Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder which are characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. These deficits are present in early childhood, and lead to clinically significant functional impairment. There is also a unique form of autism called autistic savantism, where a child can display outstanding skills in music, art and numbers with no practice.
Although, there is no known cure for autism, the goals of treatment are to lessen associated deficits and family distress, and to increase quality of life and functional independence. Treatment is typically tailored to the child’s needs. Intensive, sustained special education programs and behaviour therapy early in life can help children acquire self-care, social and job skills. Available approaches include applied behaviour analysis, developmental models, structured teaching, speech and language therapy, social skills therapy, and occupational therapy. A psychoeducational approach is also adopted to enhance cognitive, communication and social skills while minimizing problem behaviours.
Generalized epilepsy, also known as primary generalized epilepsy or idiopathic epilepsy, is a form of epilepsy characterised by generalised seizures with no apparent cause that impairs consciousness and distorts the electrical activity of the whole or a larger portion of the brain. Epilepsy in children are managed by developing a comprehensive treatment plan with the help of highly acclaimed neurologist and developmental impairment due to epilepsy in children are addressed through a holistic approach which manages symptoms and improves the quality of life.
It is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder in which there are significant problems with executive functions that cause attention deficits hyperactivity or impulsiveness which is not appropriate for a person’s age. Although it causes impairment, particularly in modern society, many children have a good attention span for tasks they find interesting. Despite being the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents, the cause in the majority of cases is unknown. Inattention, hyperactivity, disruptive behaviour, and impulsivity are common in ADHD . Academic difficulties are frequent as are problems with relationships. The symptoms can be difficult to define as it is hard to draw a line at where normal levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity end and significant levels requiring intervention begins.
The management of ADHD typically involves counselling, behavioural therapy Psychoeducational input, cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, family therapy, school based interventions, social skills training, parent management training and neurofeedback.Regular physical exercise, particularly Yoga and aerobic exercise, is an effective add on treatment for ADHD which result in better behaviour and motor abilities without causing any side effects.
Learning disability is a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. These disorders are intrinsic to the individual and presumed to be due to Central Nervous System Dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may occur concomitantly with other handicapping conditions such as sensory impairment, intellectual disability, social and emotional disturbance, or environmental influences such as cultural differences, insufficient/inappropriate instruction, psychogenic factors, it is not the direct result of those conditions or influences.
Management of learning disabilities through intervention includes Practice, gaining fundamental skills, Emphasizing carefully planned lessons for small learning increments, scripted lesson plans, rapid paced interaction between the child and the therapist, correcting mistakes immediately, achievement based grouping, frequent progress assessment, Special seating assignments, alternative or modified assignments, modified testing procedures, use of special equipment such as word processors with spell checkers and dictionaries, text-to-speech and speech-to-text programs, talking calculators, books on tape, computer based activities, special education in prescribed hours in a resource room, with individual education plan and educational therapy.