CGC Offers Counselling And Guidance
The Child Guidance Clinic, a centre offering counselling and guidance for problems of children and adolescents, is planning to start an early intervention wing. It will address the problems of children with special needs, said Shalini Somesh, Consultant Rehabilitation Child Psychologist and founder of the centre. “Special needs need not necessarily be physical disability. It could also be educational, behavioural or developmental problems in children,” she added.The early intervention centre would focus on identifying the problem early and correcting it. It would cater to children from birth to five years of age, as the readiness to learn was the maximum in the 0 to 5 age. It would also train the mother to identify the strengths and disabilities of the child and help the child utilise its potential. “The earlier a problem is detected, the greater is the scope for recovery,” Dr.Shalini said. Mild problems could be corrected to near-normal levels.
The awareness regarding early intervention was still low among parents. The paediatricians themselves could talk to the parents about early intervention, especially if the babies fell into the high-risk category. Complicated pregnancy and problems during delivery could increase the risk of the child being in the high-risk group. The centre would start functioning on June 15 at Poornima Clinic, opposite Spencers, NSR Road, Saibaba Colony. For details, call 9944077779.
