Clinic for children with special needs

Lucknow: To attend to needs of children with developmental delays and disorders, Apollomedics Hospitals started its dedicated child development clinic here on Thursday.
According to WHO estimates, about 5% of children below 14 years of age experience some form of developmental delay, disorder or disability. The list includes concerns like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and speech and language delays, among others.
Associate director of paediatrics and neonatology Dr Pranjali Saxena, said: "In today's rapidly changing world, developmental and behavioural disorders are becoming more common. Though factors like genetics, environmental influences or early childhood illnesses and malnutrition are linked to these problems, reasons like nuclear family settings, advanced parental age, increased screen time and high-risk pregnancies are also linked." She stressed identifying developmental delays early for significant difference in a child's life. "With early intervention, we can improve outcomes. Our clinic will focus on diagnosing these issues as early as possible and providing evidence-based interventions to support the child's growth and development," she said. MD and CEO Dr Mayank Somani hoped that the effort would bring a significant difference in the lives of many children and their families. "With their holistic approach, our experts would try to give direction to their usually rudderless journeys," he said.