Help is just a phone call away for parents with autistic children. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has launched a helpline to help parents cope with any medical emergency.
Department of Paediatrics, AIIMS, Child Neurology Division chief Prof. Sheffali Gulati said the Autism telephonic helpline (9868399037) is aimed at helping parents cope with any medical emergency. The department already has an online autism helpline (autismhelp.pedsaiims@gmail.com) functional since April 2013. These autism helplines, put together by Child Neurology Division, Department of Paediatrics, are an attempt to reach out to parents and children with autism, she added.
The Autism Services at the Department of Paediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi, has over 600 children on regular follow up who have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2002.
On an average, 180-200 children are diagnosed every year with autism spectrum disorder.
Doctors here explain that the recent trend indicates an increasing number of cases diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
"A holistic and early intervention model has been followed for the management of autism. The therapies provided include, Modified Applied Behaviour Analysis, Sensory Integration and structured teaching, etc. Most of the parents have reported positive changes and remediation of problematic behaviours after following these advices,’’ noted Gulati.
"Our department has conducted a number of research projects in this field, which includes sleep problems in autistic children, and role of heavy metals in autism. Autism assessment in Indian children, early intervention methods in autism, and home based intervention modules are other areas where the department is currently working,’’ she added.
April is observed as the autism awareness month. To commemorate, AIIMS organised a public health lecture, “Autism Awareness: Bringing them in the mainstream,” on April 30.
