Health
Child Developement Clinic India:Why we need it
In recent times, there has been a surge of developmental problems like autism, learning disability and behavioral problems in children other than the so-called global developmental delay and cerebral palsy.
With the advent of PICU(pediatric intensive care unit) and NICU(Neonatal Intensive care unit) better healthcare facilities and better survival of sick and small neonates, there has been an increase in childhood disability. At present 10% of the population has some form of disability, it is much higher in high-risk babies graduating from NICU and PICU.
It is important to screen our children for development from time to time, as it not only helps to document their development track but also aids in early detection of any significant lags and addresses them timely with appropriate measures.
Child Development Clinic is an early intervention and pediatric rehabilitation center which works exclusively for High Risks Infants and children with special needs
So why we need a CDC?
1] Disabilities are not always visible: Doctors along with parents, play a key role in monitoring child’s development and identifying any signs of delays or challenges.
2] Early intervention is important:.The first three years of a childโs development are the most crucial. Intervention at this stage before any formal diagnosis is essential.Early intervention can be remedial or preventive in nature i.e remediation of existing developmental problems or preventing their occurrence.
3] Burden is huge:.As per official data, approximately 52 million children in India have symptoms of developmental disabilities.
4] Social stigmata: to break the stigmata that these children with special needs are not a burden to the society.We believe that all such children can be included in society and reach their maximum potential if given the chance. And we the apparently normal people have a lot to gain from them.
Who will help you in a Child development clinic
- Pediatrician
- Psychiatrist
- Clinical psychologist
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech Pathologist
- Special supportive medical team like Orthopedician, ENT surgeon, Eye surgeon)
Check this site out for more information about child development.
What will they be checking?
They will monitor hearing, sight, motor skills, language and speech, intelligence, social skills and overall development.
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12 Eye Care Tips from Lessons Learned: Doc Who Wears Specs
I started wearing specs from just before my 12 th board exams.Whether it was my book reading habit or my food habits it was a surprise.As you can guess the first pair of corrective glasses were a full cover, perfect prescription glasses, which didn’t care about style.I was worried.Could I be a doctor?Could I be a surgeon?
I have good news. Yes is the answer to both.Your eyes are an important part of how happy and healthy you are .They are a mirror to your soul and also to your health.Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, stress, poor diet all can dim your lovely eyes .
These are my 12 eye care tips for keeping your lovely sparkling eyes sparkling forever.The lessons which I learned from med school and life!
#1 Be careful of your screen time.
#2 If you use spectacles or contact lenses get your eyes checked regularly on time.
#3 Contact lens care should be diligently followed.Avoid going into the pool with your contact lens on.Its better to wear specs if you are planning on bursting crackers.Smoke and particulate matter can make an eye wearing contact lens have serious problems.Keep your hands clean while putting on and taking of contact lens.Avoid touching them while traveling and with unwashed hands.Never sleep with your contact lens on.Always blink often when you wear contact lens.Use the best type suitable for your eyes and condition.I prefer disposable ones.
#4 Avoid expired makeup for your eyes.It can cause serious problems.
#5While using your computer follow these tips to avoid computer strain.It affects a lot of other things not just your eyes.
#6 Follow Lifestyle rules to prevent avoidable blindness.Diabetes is a major cause of avoidable blindness.It can spoil not only your eyes but every part of your body.
#7 Stop smoking.This helps in slowing down the age-related eye changes.
#8 Maintain the right body weight.Did you know obesity can change your refractive error?Children have changing refraction due to growing age, but this gets worse with fluctuating body weight and childhood obesity.Adults with the problem of obesity may be at risk for diabetes and have a higher risk of fluctuating eyesight.
#9 Have food rich in eye-friendly nutrients.Eat right and keep your sight right!
There is research backed scientific evidence to show that antioxidants in diet will help to reduce risk of age-related eye diseases
Nutrients for eye #BuildingBlocksofNutrition
Most important are vitamins C and E, ฮฒ-carotene, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
Download my book which tells you which fruits have the best vitamins.Its free today!
Egg yolk and maize (corn) have highest mole percentage (% of total) of lutein and zeaxanthin (more than 85% of the total carotenoids). Maize is the vegetable with the highest quantity of lutein (60% of total) and orange pepper is the vegetable with the highest amount of zeaxanthin (37% of total). Significant amount of lutein and zeaxanthin (30-50%) were also present in kiwi fruit, grapes, spinach, orange juice, zucchini (or vegetable marrow), and different types of squash
The best idea is to include different colored fruits and vegetables consumed to increase dietary lutein and zeaxanthin.This article is very helpful.
A balanced healthy diet includes a variety of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, pulses, lean meats(organic and grass fed is best), fish, nuts and plenty of water.
These are the sources of the many vitamins and minerals your body needs to fight against age-related eye problems, lifestyle diseases cancer and cardiovascular disease.
#10 The backstory about your familyโs eye health can help your doctor understand your problem better.Some eye conditions are hereditary.So you need to know the conditions which you are at higher risk for.This helps in modifying lifestyle accordingly.An important lifestyle condition like diabetes has serious eye conditions associated with it.If your family has a history of diabetes, take care to eat right, exercise and get health check-ups regularly which includes eye tests.
#11 Buy those pretty shades: Your sunglasses are not only your style statement but also helps protect your eyes against harmful ultraviolet rays.Look for ones that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV B ultaraviolet rays.They are necessary expenses to keep your eyes healthy and strong.
#12 Rest those beautiful eyes.Look at green plants, meditate, splash water and don’t forget to breathe deep.Avoid stress to your eyes .Theres a lot more to see!
References:
1) Clin Interv Aging. 2013; 8: 741โ748.
Published online 2013 Jun 19. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S45399 Pubmed
2)Nutrients for the aging eye
Helen M Rasmussen1 and Elizabeth J Johnson2 Pubmed
3)Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes
O. Sommerburg, J. Keunen, A. Bird, and F. J G M van Kuijk Pubmed
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Childhood Hearing Loss: Act Now Here is How!
Does Your Child Have a Hearing Problem?
Unlikely right?Not really. Hearing problem is the top cause of the sensory deficit. It also ranks as the second commonest disability in India.ย Fourย in every 1000 children are suffering from severe to profound hearing loss. That’s, not a good number. That’s also only half the story.
Also, that’s only half the story.
There are unfortunately few government centers for teaching the hearing challenged and rehabilitation. The even bigger problem the awareness level for early detection and treatment is woefully lacking.
When the child hears, the sound signal is carried to the brain via nerves.ย The brain on receiving the sound makes it understandable and coordinates with the speech centres for the needful.If the brain receives no or low sound, speech is difficult and may be impossible. Even if the speech mechanism is working fine, they never speak.t
The brain doesn’t know what to speak! It has never heard you see! We learn languages by hearing and understanding.For a hearing challenged brain, it simphealthwealthbridge.com/cochlear-implantwhat-you-need-to-know-part1ly doesn’t know.
WHO survey about causes of hearing loss
- Ear wax: reversible hearing loss.
- Middle ear infections
- ย Genetic causes, of congenital hearing loss: About 50% of all cases of congenital hearing loss are due to environmental factors, congenital hyperbilirubinemia, ototoxic medication exposure, neonatal hypoxia, viral infections, and meningitis. Rest ย 50% are genetic causes.
Children having birth trauma, maternal TORCH infection(Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes can all cause severe congenital hearing loss)
3 Things you should know about hearing loss in children
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Early detection is very important.
If a child suffers from severe neonatal jaundice, withย Neonatal intensive care unit admission, meningitisย , and other traumatic birth events, are all risk factors for hearing loss.
The family history of the similar problem, in parents or in another sibling to be ruled out.Consanguinity is also an important factor to be kept in mind . Especially for hereditary and genetic causes.
How is early detection possible?
- At the hospital during NICU admission for meningitis etc.
- At the high-risk baby clinic
- Child development clinic
- At home with a high level of suspicion
It may be done with the screening bedside Otoacoustic emission testing.If this shows abnormality a BERA test (brain stem evoke audiometry ) is done. Both these tests are non-invasive with no discomfort to the child and help to identify whether sound waves are reaching the brain.
At home, parents need to be aware: How can you know?
- Does she startle on hearing a loud sound?
- Does the doorbell wake her up?
- Whether baby turns head toward your voice(at 8 to 12 weeks)
BERA test: Studies recommend at least six months as the earliest age when resultsย will help us . By 9 months we can be sure that thereโs a problem.
- Treatment options for hearing loss
The isolated hearing loss in children has excellent chances of rehabilitation.Cochlear Implant can restore the gift of sound, to both congenital hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss due to other causes.
Hearing loss due to middle ear infections will need ear surgeries for removing ear infections. Hearing rehabilitation in these cases can be through surgery or a hearing aid. A cochlear implant in these cases is also considered.Ear wax is easily cleaned using ear drops as prescribed by your ENT specialist.
A hearing aid helps in augmenting hearing in children. This is important. If the hearing is not augmented, the remaining hearing may suffer untimely damage. Disuse atrophy for nerves is a real danger.So never delay. The magic is in the timing of intervention.I wrote about who needs a cochlear implant here. You can learn about the need for careful selection to help more people, on time.
Do not delay and avoid indigenous experiments. This only serves to delay the process.
The brain has maximal plasticity for 2 years to 1000 days. To some extent, up to 7 years of age. The quicker we diagnose and rehabilitate, the better it is. Rehabilitation needs a lot of patience. Itโs not magic, but prayers always help.
Some problems which make this a challenge:
Parents find out too late. The child is already around 2 to 3 years when parents start worrying about speech delay. The best way to avoid the loss of golden time is universal screening at birth. That’s the best way to catch the problem early and help them.
Cochlear implant :What you need to know Part 1
Cochlear implant: Who needs it?
Childhood Hearing Loss: Act Now Here is How!
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Cochlear Implant:What you need to know (Part1)
There are grossly 2 Type of hearing loss
Post-lingual hearing loss: When a child develops normal speech and then loses it due to some event.
Most commonly post meningitis, a cochlear implant can change lives. But timing is everything.
Can your child hear you?
Prelingual hearing deficit: Hearing and speech challenged since birth.Nowadays it’s possible to have excellent results even with babies as young as 12 months.
3 most important things to help children who are hearing challenged:
That’s why the early restoration of hearing can help develop normal speech in the prelingually (speech never developed)hearing challenged.
#2 Training before implant
Preimplant language training by sign language (aural-oral) helps in speech development after implant.
Also, digital hearing aid is prescribed before implantation to help with adjustment to wearing an earpiece.
Also, digital hearing aid is prescribed before implantation to help with adjustment to wearing an earpiece.
Post-implant continued training to help in the rehabilitation of the child.The family has to be committed towards this goal.
So how can you detect earliest in babies who have never developed hearing and speech?
Tests needed:1)Testing the hearing: BERA/Tympanometry /OAE/ASSR
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Infertility in India:The Truth no one told you
Nisha Duggal successfully climbed several rungs of the corporate ladder when she finally decided to โhitโ the next milestone i.e, having a baby. Now even after five years, she is still โtryingโ to hit that milestone. Days, however, turned into months and months into years as Nisha, now 40, has so far spent lakhs of rupees at different infertility clinics to carry her bundle of joy in her womb. “When science failed to treat me, I tried many gharelu nuskas (home remedies) as well, but all in vain,โ she said.
Nisha is not the only woman in India who is struggling with infertility, as there has been a spurt in the number of women who have been dealing with fertility issues.
Related:
Planning for a baby- 5 Tests you must do
IVF Treatment in India: Quick Truths you need to know
Infertility- The Problem That has Grown Manifold
Finding out the real cause of infertility is a complex process. Ranging from a visible cyst problem, fibroid or hormonal imbalance to complex genetic disorders and occupational hazards, the reason could be anything. In fact, strangely, infertility is not making any distinction in โchoosingโ her patients as couples under 25 are also dealing with fertility problems in India. As per experts, nearly 15% of couples from the age group of 21 to 25 years are facing fertility problems.
Infertility, in both men and women, has become a common trend nowadays.
1 out of 5 couples is childless and their number is growing at an alarming rate
Since 1981, 5% jump in infertility in urban India
17% of childless women face with marital problems as compared to 2% with kids
10% of young males have sperm issues
In our society, where it is โonlyโ a womanโs job to take the โvanshโ forward, itโs hard to understand the pain and agony of a woman who is unable to conceive because the fertility issue is with her partner.
In a modernized society, the conceding problem has expanded and has impacted men as well. In fact, as per studies, male infertility is the cause in nearly 40% of couples facing infertility troubles as compared to around 20% a decade ago. The most common issues men face today are low sperm count, low mortality of sperm and morphology abnormalities.
It is an alarming rate which could be due to changing lifestyle, stress work atmosphere, high consumption of alcohol/tobacco and rising obesity among others. Then swelling of blood vessels around tests and hernia surgery can also lead to infertility among men.
Dealing with infertility
To fight against infertility, it is essential to know the cause behind it. Many times, by introducing simple changes in your lifestyle, like quitting smoking/alcohol, taking up exercise, following a healthy diet, etc; it is feasible to conceive naturally.
Then there are IVF procedures which are spreading happiness in the lives of childless couples. However, the IVF treatment doesnโt come easy. The cost of IVF in India can range between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000. However, most couples have to spend over Rs 3 lakh due to multiple IVF cycles.
Then if the pregnancy problem is due to low or poor sperm quality, then a couple can go with sperm donor as well for which they would need to shell out anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, which again could vary from case to case.
Healthcare checks you must do
- Curtail your exposure to toxic chemicals
- Have a balanced diet
- Check yourself for STD sexually transmitted diseases)
- Avoid caffeine, smoking and alcohol
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
InfertilityDost – A Fertility Wellness Platform
When you are struggling with infertility, it can feel like no one is around there to support you. You might have thousands of friends on facebook, a long contact list on your Smartphone or lakhs of followers on twitter, but somehow, you would feel there is no one here to understand you. After all, they need to be in your shoes to understand how you feel.
When you broke up with your boyfriend, your friendโs shoulder is there to console you, when you crashed your car, your father and brother are there to rescue you. But when you are fighting with fertility issues, even your closest persons wonโt be able to help you. Without experiencing your sadness and anger, itโs just difficult for them to say or do the right things.
We are building a holistic platform to educate, counsel, handhold and provide tools to facilitate informed treatment decision. We provide lifestyle and treatment counseling, not for patients going through infertility issues but also as a preventive healthcare.
We at InfertilityDost have come into existence with a prime objective of helping couples who face problems in conceiving. They say, you canโt understand a situation unless you donโt feel it. At InfertilityDost, we have a team of such people who may belong to different parts of the society but they all have experienced or seen infertility or fertility issues at some point in their lives. Either they were victim or witness!
We have developed an emotional support group on social media networks where you can talk and vent out your frustrations or anger anonymously. It is a platform where we salute those fighters also who fought and won the struggle of infertility.
Many times, ignorance about infertility and various treatments like IVF make the journey more difficult. We have a panel of experts which can guide you about infertility and various procedures associated with it.
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Remember, we all have been on the same boat with one difference onlyโ I traveled first, so I can understand what you have been going through. Sometimes, you donโt need lectures, advice or tips but only an ear that can listen to you and with whom you can be what you are without being judged.
Instead of blaming God for your state, take charge of your happiness and write your own destiny!For more such articles check out the blog.
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The author of this article is Ms. Gitanjali Banerjee . The founder of InfertilityDost had a 10-year-long tryst with infertility wherein she decided to change the way this issue is perceived in society and managed by patients. She hopes to wipe away a few tears for those stuck on the journey to fertility. Her life’s biggest pain is now her greatest strength and she dreams of a society where infertility is just a disease, a curable one, and has no implications on your being a woman or man.
Write to her at banerjee.gitanjali@gmail.com
