The TDH Rehabilitation and Morris Child Development Centre at KEM Hospital, Pune is devoted to providing diagnostic and therapeutic services for all kinds of developmental and behavioural needs under one roof, with an interdisciplinary team approach.
The Paediatric Department inaugurated this path-breaking centre with the aid of a German social service organisation – the Terre Des Hommes, in 1979. We were the first such centre in India for the comprehensive diagnosis and therapy of children with all manner of physical and mental challenges.
Various facilities at the centre include: IQ and behavioural testing, hearing assessment, speech therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration and physiotherapy. The focus of all work done at the centre is enabling each child to achieve his/her potential. Early detection and intervention are important steps in this direction.
A child’s first contact at the Centre is with the developmental and behavioural paediatrician,
whose role is:
- Medical and developmental assessments with investigations and diagnosis
- Referrals for testing and therapy
- Counselling and motivation for parents and children
- Regular reassessment of the child’s progress
Assessment
- Intelligence Quotient (IQ) testing
- Development Quotient (DQ) testing
- Behavioural assessment
- Personality evaluation
- Aptitude testing and career counselling
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) testing
Counselling
- Management of autistic spectrum disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Down’s Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Behavioural issues: temper tantrums, anti-social behaviour, bed-wetting, etc.
- Learning disabilities and scholastic backwardness
- Parent training and support groups
Therapy
- Play therapy
- Stimulation program for development delays
- Behavioural modification
Occupational Therapy is provided to facilitate and stimulate normal motor, mental and social
development in order to improve the quality of life. Our services include:
- Improving neuro-motor coordination and perceptual skills
- Training in basic tasks such as feeding, bathing and dressing of children with special
needs - Development of hand functions in children with writing problems
- Exercise and hand activities for upper extremity disorders
- Muscle testing and charting
- Exercises to improve power and coordination of muscles
- Exercise to prevent contractures and deformities in cerebral palsy, tonal
abnormalities - Electric stimulation and diathermy
- Gait training
- Prescription of appliances if necessary
The special ‘BIG EARS’ project is the first of its kind in India with a focus on early detection,
diagnosis and therapy of hearing loss.
- Liaison between doctors, therapists, parents and families of children with special
needs - Provide emotional support and in-depth counselling to enable parents and other
family members understand and accept the child’s limitation and ‘different abilities’ - Motivate the parents/family to continue the necessary long-term therapies
- Help with socio-economic problems
- Conduct home and school visits
- Provide referrals to integrated schools, special schools and institutions
- Parent counselling
- Support groups
- Skill workshops for teachers, parents, medical and paramedical professionals
- Awareness building in the community
