Developmental Paediatrics at CMC Hospital, Vellore
Research says 1 out of 10 children may be born different. Some call it a disability, but developmental paediatricians at CMC Hospital, call it a neurodevelopmental need. They help such children and their parents via an outpatient department and a hall of residence (for those kids and parents who need to stay overnight for receiving the treatment.)
The developmental paediatrics department helps the following types of kids:
• Dysembryogenic state: Complications during the growth of the baby in the womb
• Feto-placental insufficiency: When the baby had not received enough nutrition: food/ oxygen from the placenta
• Antenatal complications: Complications before the baby is born
• Peri and neonatal insults: Complications during or immediately after the childbirth
• Neurodegenerative illnesses: Hereditary illnesses of the brain and nerves
• Neuro-developmental delays: Delayed development
• Behaviour dysfunctions: Altered behaviour such as noisy children
When you visit the department, specialists observe your child, the way he/ she talks, sees, hears, behaves, plays with toys, holds toys, and plays with other kids. They use different kinds of tests to assess kids of different ages. They ask you about your kid’s feeding patterns, sleep patterns, and general behaviour at school and at work. The specialists at the developmental paediatric department design customised learning programs which are suitable for different kids based on the test results and their observations.
If needed, your doctor asks you and your child to stay at the hall of residence, wherein your child’s needs will be taken care. The staff trains you on how to address the special needs of your child. They also have other activities such as early learning centre, sleep monitoring, terrace therapy, playroom, nursing education, sleep hygiene practices, and sensory-motor observation room.
You will be asked to practice the learning sessions with your kids at your home. Your kids will be monitored once a month. If you stay far away, you can inform the hospital staff about your kid’s progress via phone or an email. However, doctors at the developmental and paediatric department, ask you to visit at least two to three times a year to make sure your child is growing well.
The outpatient consultation days for developmental are Monday and Thursday and for paediatrics its Friday.
