Where To Take Your Kids For Diagnosis?
Sunday, June 20th, 2010Bringing the child to a physician or a family doctor is not enough. Its not that they don’t know anything about it but they don’t know how to break the news in a manner the parents will be able to accept. I experienced the same way with our family doctor. He could have said it in a better way that will not offend me. I should thank him for noticing something different with my child but I resented him after that. I hated him after telling me that my daughter might be autistic. I rarely see him after that I resent him since then. How could he say my daughter is autistic when he haven’t done any test or sorts to say such.
When is the right time to bring your child for an assessment?
If you feel there is something wrong with your child or you notice something different about her then don’t think twice get an assessment immediately.
Things to look out for are the following:
- If your child doesn’t say any single word at 15 months
- If your child is not able to say two-word phrases by 24 months (i.e. Mama eat)
- Doesn’t turn to his name when called
- Repetitive behavior or mannerism (holding his ears, circling around, hand flapping, wall or head banging)
- Does not sustain eye contact
- Apparent “regression” or loss of words that the child was able to use before
- Does not bring objects to show to parents
- Inappropriate facial expressions
- Does not point using an index finger to indicate his needs
- Does not show interest in playing or interacting with other children
- Side-glancing
- May have splinter skills like reading at an early age without understanding what he reads.
- repeats what others say without understanding its meaning (parroting or echolalia)
- May be oversensitive to sounds, sights, smells
Where to take your kids for diagnosis?
I highly recommend the Philippines Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) this is the best place to take kids with health problems or concerns. They have all the specialist everyone would need and they have the network of all practicing development physician in the country. However getting a schedule with a development physician is very hard so you should call as soon as possible.
The Medical City (TMC) also offers diagnosis for Php2,000. This will take an hour or more of observing the child. The developmental Pediatrics Program Clinic of TMC offers surveillance and screening of children for autism and other related disorders. You can call (632) 6356789 ext 6630 for an appointment.
