Free screening camp in Kohima aids over 20 children with disabilities, experts stress early diagnosis and follow-up care.
Share
KOHIMA — A free screening camp for children was held in Kohima with over 20 children with disabilities availing the service.
The screening camp was organised by Beautiful Minds Centre for Child Development in collaboration with Clarity Speech and Hearing Clinic, Kohima, at the centre.
Clinical psychologist, behavioural therapist, speech language pathologist, audiologist and special educator provided the expertise during the screening.
H Sweety Lorin Kin, senior audiologist and speech language pathologist, noted that some of the common developmental delays observed during Monday's screening included behavioural problems, speech delay or unclear speech, autism and intellectual disability.
One of the significant things she noticed was the attention problem in children. She acknowledged "doom scrolling" habits among the children affects a child developmental delays as teaches them to have a very short attention span.
Also read: 'Nagas: The Knowledge Practitioners' explores indigenous wisdom
New school building of GHSS Kigwema inaugurated in Kohima
She also emphasised on the importance of early intervention and early diagnosis for better performances of a child in life.
From the screenings, Kin recommended some children to go for proper detailed assessment with clinical psychologist, some for speech and behavioural therapy and some for proper hearing assessment.
There were also some children whose problem were not very severe and can be tackled at home with enough stimulation and lifestyle changes, she said.
While saying that less than 50 percent of children with disabilities turn up for follow-ups in the previous camps, she hoped that parents would bring their child for follow-ups therapy.
Co-founder of Beautiful Minds Centre for Child Development, Apila Rulho, said they intend to conduct free screening camps in schools in Kohima, beginning with nearby schools in the days to come.