Abstract
Objectives: To establish the socio-demographic and clinical profile of children attending Early Intervention Program (EIP).Methods: Retrospective analysis of case records of 100 consecutive children examined from July 2002 to June 2004. Data regarding socio-demographic variables, clinical profile, locomotor, speech and audiology functions were recorded. Data is described in terms of frequency and mean (with SD).Results: Mean age of these children was 4.0±1.4 years. 70% were male and a similar percentage hailed from urban areas. 88% were mentally retarded with mean IQ of 50±24.3. Cerebral Palsy was seen in 50% of the children, learning disorder in 24%, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 12% and autism in 4%. 25% of children suffered from epilepsy and 66% were unable to communicate verbally. 21% of children had strong evidence of genetic disorders. An etiological diagnosis could not be made in 31% of children.Conclusions: Awareness of developmental delay as well as of possible interventions is low in India. Speech delay is the only delay which is considered important by parents. Active involvement and early referrals from pediatricians, obstetricians and other specialists is suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Guralnick MJ and Bennet FC. A framework for early intervention. InThe Effectiveness of Early Intervention for at Risk and Handicapped Children. Guralnick MJ and Bennet FC (Eds.). Orlando, Academic Press. 1987;3–29.
US Department of Education. To assure the free appropriate public education of all children with disabilities (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 618). Twenty-third Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2001. Accessed from http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/ 2001/index.html on May 19, 2005.
Simeonsson RJ. Early Prevention of childhood disability in developing countries.Int J Rehabil Res 1991;14(1):1–12.
Bailey Jr. DB, Hebbeler K, Scarborough A, Spiker D and Mallik S. First experiences with Early Intervention: A national perspective.Pediatrics 2004;113(4):887–896.
Jayaranza S, Bhat JS. Epidemiological Profile of Children with Autism in Comparison with other Communicatively Challenged children Attending Early Intervention Centre.Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2004;29(3):145–146.
Juneja M, Mukherjee SB, Sharma S. A descriptive Hospital Based study of children with Autism.Pediatrics 2005;42(5): 453–458.
Ganguli HC. Epidemiological findings on prevalence of mental disorders in India.Indian J Psychiatry 2000;42(1):14–20.
Chadda RK. Mental retardation. InTextbook of Postgraduate Psychiatry. Second Edition. Vyas JN and Ahuja N eds. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, 1999;572–585.
Fox MA. Mental retardation. InAn Introduction to Neurodevelopmental disorders of children. First Edition. Fox MA (Ed.), New Delhi,The National Trust 2003;125–163.
Kalra V, Seth R, Sapra S. Austism—experiences in a tertiary care hospital.Indian J Pediatr 2005;72(3):227–230.
Singhi PD, Ray M, Suri G. Clinical spectrum of cerebral palsy in north India-an analysis of 1,000 cases.J Trop Pediatr 2002 48(3):162–166.
Sankar C, Mundkur N. Cerebral Palsy—Definition, Classification, Etiology and Early Diagnosis.Indian J Pediatr 2005;72(10):865–868.
Ratey JJ and Dymek MP. Neuropsychiatry of mental retardation and Cerebral Palsy. InComprehensive Neuropsychiatry. Fogel BS, Schiffer RB, Rao SM, eds. Baltimore. Williams and Wilkins 1996;549–569.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaur, P., Chavan, B.S., Lata, S. et al. Early intervention in developmental delay. Indian J Pediatr 73, 405–408 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02758561
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02758561