Category: Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual disability is a condition of limited mental ability in which the individual,

(1) has a low IQ, usually below 70 on a traditional intelligence test;

(2) has difficulty in adapting to the demands of everyday life; and

(3) first exhibits these characteristics by age 18

The most distinctive feature of intellectual disability (formerly called Mental Retardation) is inadequate intellectual functioning, identified by a lack of age-appropriate skills in learning and caring for themselves.IQ scores categorize intellectual disability as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. However, limitations in present functioning is generally considered within the context of the community environment of the child, typical of the individual’s age, peers, and culture. Also noted is the fact that with appropriate personalized supports over a sustained period, the life functioning of the person with intellectual disability generally will improve. Children with Low IQ face delay or difficulty in learning new skills, studying and engaging in proper behaviours. Typically, children with intellectual impairment fail in school examinations despite genuine efforts. In between trying to perform better in academics and the lack of intellectual ability to do so, they may suffer from helplessness and low self-esteem. Our therapists design a program based on the individual child’s needs, incorporating various behavioral techniques, to improve their level of functioning, where specific behavioral objectives are defined, and children are taught skills in small, sequential steps.

Worried that your child might have Intellectual disability:

1. Does your child experience difficulty with intellectual activities (e.g. reasoning, problem solving, planning, abstract thinking, learning)?
2. Does your child exhibit poor adaptive functioning, failure to meet developmental milestones related to independence and responsibility, and limited functioning in one or more daily life activities (e.g. communication, social participation) across multiple environments (e.g. school, home)?
3. Does your child experience difficulty in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships (e.g. difficulties adjusting behaviour in different social settings, lack of interest in or understanding of peers and social play activities)?
4. Do you feel that your child does not behave adequately as per his age?

If you have said yes to most of the above, we might be able to help you.

Treatments, we provide that can help your child and you:

IQ Assessment

Behaviour Therapy

Special Education

Skill Training

Children reach developmental milestones at their own pace. Minor, temporary delays are usually no cause for alarm, but an ongoing delay or multiple delays in reaching milestones can lead to issues later in life. A developmental delay can occur in just one area or in a few, as enlisted below. A global developmental delay is when kids have delays in at least two areas:

1. Cognitive (or thinking) skills or the ability to think, learn and solve problems.
2. Social and emotional skills or the ability to relate to other people.
3. Speech and language skills or the ability to use and understand language.
4. Fine and gross motor skills or the ability to use small muscles (fine motor), particularly in the hands, and large muscles (gross motor) in the body.
5. Activities of daily living or the ability to handle everyday tasks.

Developmental delay may be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, problems with pregnancy, and premature birth. The cause is not always known. Also, Developmental delay sometimes indicates an underlying condition that only doctors can diagnosis. Early detection and intervention are important to help your child develop skills.

 Worried that your child might be having a developmental delay?

1. Does your child have delayed cognitive skills?
2. Does your child have delayed language or speech?
3. Does your child have delayed development of motor skills?
4. Does your child have delayed social and emotional skills?
5. Does your child have difficulty performing activities of daily living?

Treatments, we provide that can help your child and you:

Paediatric Physiotherapy

Speech Therapy

Multisensory Integration

Skill Training

Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which the child inherits all or part of an extra 21^st chromosome. Children with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It is the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorder. The consequences of Down syndrome include mental retardation, memory and speech problems, limited vocabulary, and slow motor development. They may also have congenital eye, ear, and heart defects and are usually characterized by a number of distinctive physical features, including a sloping forehead, protruding tongue, short stubby limbs, slightly flattened nose, and almond-shaped eyes. Although intellectually impaired, these children reach many of the same developmental milestones as normal children, though at a slower pace. Most of these children learn to care for their basic needs, and some learn to read and write. Developmental progress appears to be best when parents and other family members strive to include the children in most family activities, are patient and work hard to properly stimulate them, and provide them with lots of emotional support. It is the only disorder that can be detected as early from the mother’s womb.

Worried that your child might be affected by Down syndrome:

1. Does your child exhibit unusual facial features like short neck, flattened face and nose, small head, ears, and mouth and upward slanting eyes?
2. Does your child experience difficulty with intellectual activities (e.g. reasoning, problem solving, planning, abstract thinking, learning)?
3. Does your child exhibit poor adaptive functioning, failure to meet developmental milestones related to independence and responsibility, and limited functioning in one or more daily life activities (e.g. communication, social participation) across multiple environments (e.g. school, home)?
4. Does your child experience difficulty in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships (e.g. difficulties adjusting behaviour in different social settings, lack of interest in or understanding of peers and social play activities)?
5. Do you feel that your child does not behave adequately as per his age?

Treatments, we provide that can help your child and you:

IQ Assessment

Behaviour Therapy

Special Education

Skill Training

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of muscle control which results from some damage to part of the brain. The term cerebral palsy is used when the problem has occurred early in life, to the developing brain. Children with cerebral palsy can have problems such as muscle weakness, stiffness, awkwardness, slowness, shakiness, and difficulty with balance. These problems can range from mild to severe. In mild cerebral palsy, the child may be slightly clumsy in one arm or leg, and the problem may be barely noticeable. In severe cerebral palsy, the child may have a lot of difficulties in performing everyday tasks and movements.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, where the muscles become stiff because the messages to the muscles are relayed incorrectly from the damaged parts of the brain. In children with spastic cerebral palsy, both groups of muscles may contract together, making the movement difficult. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is another type of Cerebral Palsy with abnormal involuntary movements. Ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common type of cerebral palsy with unsteady shaky movements or tremor along with problems with balance.

Worried that your child might have CP?

1. Does your child have delays in reaching motor skill milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up alone, or crawling?
2. Does your child have variations in muscle tone, such as being too floppy or too stiff?
3. Does your child have delays in speech development and difficulty speaking?
4. Does your child have tremors or involuntary movements, excessive drooling and problems with swallowing?
5. Does your child have difficulty walking, favours one side of the body, such as reaching with one hand?
6. Does your child have neurological problems, such as seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness?

Treatments, we provide that can help your child and you:

Paediatric Physiotherapy

Speech Therapy

Multisensory Integration

Skill Training