The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Early intervention may help mentally challenged children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Early intervention may help mentally challenged children

Staff Reporter

Training in language development helps

CHENNAI: Early intervention in training of mentally challenged children can help integration with the mainstream in later years, said V. Krishnaswamy, director of the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Centre.

He was speaking on the importance of the Second National Workshop on Early Intervention in Mental Retardation, organised by the Centre, at the Pastoral Centre in Santhome on Saturday.

Participants at the workshop were predominantly from non-governmental organisations. It was inaugurated by P.S.N. Kutty, general manager, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

R. Rangasayee, Director of the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, who delivered the keynote address, stressed the importance of involving Panchayati Raj institutions in initiating intervention measures.

Mr Jeyachandran, who is associated with the cause, said training in motor skills, language development, socialisation, cognition and self-help skills till six years of age could do wonders.

"It can prevent deterioration and even improve their mental condition. It involves the family by initiating mothers as teachers and makes integration easier," he said.

Mr. Krishnaswamy said early intervention reached only six per cent of the estimated 10 million mentally challenged in India.

The Madhuram Narayanan Centre grew out of a corporate social responsibility initiative.

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