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Keeping track of babies’ growth

Modern methods of treatment have brought down the infant mortality rate, but few checks are done on the growing baby to ensure that organs and body functions are developing as required.

Defects in hearing or vision, improper thyroid functioning and such problems can be reduced or even curbed, if detected early.

Unfortunately, no hospital provides a complete check. The Indian Academy of Paediatricians Kochi branch has arranged hearing screening for newborn babies in hospitals in Ernakulam district. This has now been extended to the Government Medical College Hospitals in Thrissur and Alappuzha and hospitals in Pala and Cherthala.

The Child Developmental Evaluation, Intervention and Research Centre, Vyttila, Kochi, started by Adarsh Charitable Trust, which runs a special school for children having cerebral palsy and autism, aims to address developmental problems in children.

Neena Shilen, developmental paediatrician, in-charge of the centre, says the team at the centre will be able to detect improper functioning of a baby’s faculties and guide parents for further tests.

Children up to three years of age will be ideal for developmental checks, as 90 per cent of the growth of brain takes place in the first year of the baby. The centre’s objective is to be a one-stop place to evaluate a baby’s growth, Dr. Shilen says. The centre will focus on detecting autism, the incidence of which has been increasing, she says.

Earlier, there were very few cases of autism, but there are quite a few affected children in society now. But there are few centres to address their problems. The parents and caregivers of these children have nothing to fall back upon to address the problems.

The first step is for parents to accept that there can be a problem if there is any sign of abnormal behaviour, Dr. Shilen says. It is difficult to detect a problem if one is not looking for it. For instance, delay in speech is taken casually by most parents. There can be a hearing problem, she says.

Autistic children generally shy away from eye contact and they lack joint attention — like connecting two things; they do not show emotions, or rather have inappropriate emotions, and they tend to repeat what others are saying. There can be mental retardation in about 10 per cent of the cases, while in 25 per cent, fits and convulsions will be there. These are only a few broad aspects for detecting autism, Dr. Shilen says.

Abraham Paul, paediatrician and consultant at the centre, says thyroid-functioning test for infants will be done as a basic screening, along with hearing and vision screening, at the centre. Improper functioning of thyroid can be cured by proper treatment and it is essential for a child’s normal growth.

The centre can be reached on ph: (0484) 404 3443 or e-mail: adarshcderc@yahoo.com. It charges fees for sittings.

Shyama Rajagopal

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