Need for coordination in detecting and treating autistic children

(Baonghean.vn) - Raising awareness among parents and preschool teachers to detect and intervene early in autistic children is one of the important solutions presented at the workshop "Some solutions to prevent and treat autism in children under 6 years old in Nghe An" organized by the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital on the afternoon of July 9 in Vinh city.

According to a survey jointly organized by the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and Vinh Medical University, the number of autistic children under 6 years old in Nghe An is 1.57%, equivalent to 1/64 children. This number tends to increase every year. Some risk factors leading to children with autism: maternal age at birth, pregnancy poisoning, premature birth, obstetric intervention at birth, children with Down syndrome...

Overview of the workshop

After implementing the project "some solutions for the development, treatment and prevention of autism in children" phase 1 from June 2011 to December 2013, the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital in collaboration with Vinh Medical University has implemented phase 2 of the project; with solutions for detecting, treating and caring for autistic children under 6 years old. The research team has trained 400 preschool teachers in Vinh city, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Thanh Chuong, Tan Ky, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau districts; 70 pediatricians and nurses from all districts and cities in the province and 400 preschool students, Vinh University students and Vinh Medical University on how to detect and care for autistic children. At the same time, they have advised over 200 mothers with autistic children on how to care for and educate autistic children at home.

Mr. Cao Truong Sinh - Vice Principal of Vinh Medical University proposed a solution: to improve the understanding of parents and preschool teachers in detecting and intervening early in autistic children.

In addition to communication work, the research team also built an autism treatment model at the Department of Neurology - Rehabilitation, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. From 2013 to present, the department has received and treated more than 1,600 children with autism. The number of patients examined in 2015 increased by 123% compared to 2013. After intervention and treatment, the number of autistic children integrating into the community increased every year, reaching 74% in 2015. Of which, 10% of children improved completely and integrated into the community normally.

Delegates representing the Department of Science and Technology proposed solutions to apply the topic into practice to prevent and treat autism in children.

At the workshop, delegates discussed solutions to apply the topic into practice, to prevent and treat autistic children effectively. In particular, the focus is on raising parents' awareness of autism in children and early detection and intervention for their children. Along with that, all levels and sectors need to train and improve knowledge for teachers at kindergartens and nurses at district hospitals on how to detect and prevent the disease according to appropriate programs.

From the effectiveness of the autism treatment model at the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, it is possible to replicate the autism examination, detection, and treatment consultation units in districts and cities; helping children have the opportunity to integrate into the community, in order to reduce the burden on families and society./.

Dinh Nguyet - Minh Thuy