Not every specialist can conduct a proper examination if a child has ASD, CP, or Down syndrome.
Stanisлава Rykova, a pediatrician from the Medical Network “Dobrobut,” explains the specifics of working with special children.
Most parents, upon learning that their child is special, often make a serious mistake: they begin searching for a miraculous method that will be effective in their specific case. As a result, they waste precious time that should be spent on a series of comprehensive measures rather than a prolonged search for specialists. It is during this period of the child's life that correction will be more successful and yield good results.
The Center for Pediatric Development was created specifically for this purpose—to conduct early diagnosis for timely identification of developmental features in such children and to implement an individual plan for corrective procedures.
Before the Center opened, a sociological study was conducted, which revealed that parents have many unresolved questions. In fact, previously, no one provided a comprehensive range of services for special children, as specialists could be located not only in different districts of the city but also in various parts of Ukraine.
Thanks to the team of doctors at the Center for Special Development, parents see a planned program of action for their children and understand what the prospects will be in 5-10 years. As a result, they feel more confident and calm.
It is important to note that doctors in regular clinics are not prepared for the reactions of special children. Communicating with such patients requires special training. An unprepared doctor unconsciously distances themselves during the examination, which the mother notices and begins to get nervous, causing the child to automatically sense her mood, leading to increased tension.
The work of the Center is structured to help the child and their family as effectively as possible. Each specialist (pediatrician, pediatric cardiologist, speech therapist-defectologist, etc.) conducting an examination of a special child is a professional in their field and has undergone training in methodologies for working with such children.
When we begin therapy, we immediately orient parents that this will be painstaking, long, and daily work. After all, adaptation programs often require many years of hard work and willpower from parents. Only then can we expect an improvement in the child's quality of adult life. The earlier the correction begins, the greater the prospects. I must share our achievements from the first five months of the center’s operation. In February, we examined a boy who had just turned 2 years old. Serhiy showed no emotions, even when addressed by his mother. He did not notice his grandmother and did not react to the doctor. It seemed as though they simply weren’t there, as if the child were alone in the office. After starting sessions with a psychologist, by the third session, Serhiy began to notice people. By the sixth session, the child exhibited emotions: he was happy to see his mother, cried when she left the office, and ran to meet his grandmother. His family could not hold back their tears—the progress in Serhiy's communication with people was so evident.
Another boy was already 5 years old when his mother contacted us at the center in mid-January. Bohdan did not speak to those around him and even did not interact with his parents. It was very important for his family to see that specialists could find an approach to their son, as the child had long been disconnected from the world. Bohdan underwent five sessions with a speech therapist and four with a special psychologist. His mother was very afraid that time had been wasted and that doctors would not be able to help her son, but the child began to pronounce individual words, then construct short sentences, and communicate with the people around him. You should have seen the faces of Bohdan's parents! Can you imagine what a motivation this was for them to continue the work? Emotionally, these are very strong experiences for relatives—after all, their child has made contact, listens, and is ready to learn.
Many more examples can be given, but even from these, it is clear that the quality of a child's life can be significantly improved if they seek help from specialists in a timely manner. The teamwork of people who care about the problems of special children and their families, along with professional help, is the most important driving force for each of our specialists. We know that the life of a special child is not a sentence. There are plenty of examples in the world of such children who have become successful in their professions, built relationships, and realized their potential. The most important thing is not to miss the moment. If you have even the slightest suspicion or a doctor's conclusion, take action! Our doors are always open, and our specialists are ready to begin timely correction and adaptation for the special child.
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