The child who was born during the Covid pandemic – is an only kid to his parents. As he had grown up abroad, there was exposure to excess screentime & there was a major lack of opportunities to play/interact with peers.
Parents felt concerned when he had poor speech skills even at 3yrs of age. He had consulted and taken therapies at other centers in Kerala but was unhappy with the outcome of services.
Having scouted out Jewel Centre (Ktym) through online reviews, the assessments conducted resulted in child being queued in for intensive therapy.
Clinical Picture :
Some of the major issues presented at the initial stage were his poor awareness levels, obsession with specific routines, self laughing / talking, disinterest to play or even take notice of other kids, getting upset/ frustrated easily, dislike to get his hands messy, poor attention & getting distracted easily, overly focused on shadows/fans/bright lights etc., poor awareness of his toileting needs & fearful of sitting on the WC, difficult to manage in classroom due to frequent meltdowns & screaming & crying excessively and difficulty to follow simple instructions.
Interventions :
Having been his OT for the past 8months – althought therapy was taken through online mode – specific need-based goals were discussed and focused on. Activities based on principles of Sensory Integration, Visual perceptual & Visual motor integration skills, Cognitive training, Functional independence in ADLs, Play behavior and Behavior Modification techniques were utilised to facilitate positive outcomes.
There has been significant changes in the Child’s overall awareness of surroundings, interest to engage in tasks, improved emotional regulation and lesser meltdowns, improved attention levels and cognitive flexibility and exploring new concepts, adaptability to changes in environment and routines, improved interactions with peers and showing interest / awareness & motivation to engage in purposeful play with peers & toys, complete independence in his Feeding & Toileting habits even when in unfamiliar settings.
This has helped him to be better integrated into the public settings like visiting museums / parks/ play areas/ theatres / supermarkets /family functions / playschool and community as a whole.
Reflective summary :
The eager, enthusiastic and proactive participation of the parent in the therapeutic interventions communicated through online sessions has played a crucial role in the improvements of the child. This coupled with regular updates on the performance & motivation of the child in his daily life occupations of play, self-care, emotional well-being and school readiness have helped to cater to the client centred goals that were focused on in therapy.
Alin Isac (MOT)
Pediatric Occupational therapist