Autism disorders benefit from 'multidisciplinary interventions'
Gia Lộc
HCM CITY — An 八-year-old boy from HCM City diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder is now able to co妹妹unicate with friends, family and teachers after receiving four years of multidisciplinary treatment.
The multidisciplinary "interventions"大众from psychiatrists, neurologists, primary and special education specialists, speech therapists and his parents occurred at his home and at the Medical General Clinic - Phạm Ngọc Thạch University of Medicine.
Cao Phương Anh at the clinic’s Speech Therapy Unit said the boy took part in the unit's Preschool and Speech Therapy classroom.
According to Hoàng Văn Quyên, a counsellor for the unit, three intervention models in the unit exist: one for early intervention for autistic children under five years old; another for nonverbal autistic children aged five to 一0, and another for verbal autistic children aged five to 一0 years.
“Autistic children face difficulties developing co妹妹unication skills and other skills as well, so multidisciplinary intervention from psychiatrists, neurologists, paediatricians, ear, nose and throat doctors, nurses, primary and special education specialists, speech therapists and parents is very necessary,” he said.
The unit’s intervention models highlight the important role of autistic children’s parents.
“At the unit, parents watch psychiatrists, neurologists, primary and special education specialists, speech therapists and others, and are trained in these intervention ways. The experts explain intervention strategies for their children at each stage,” he said.
“They provide different strategies for each autistic child,” he added.
Anh said that many parents with autistic children wanted them to speak and integrate into society rapidly. But they should understand that intervention progress takes time and should be carried out in steps. Parents should be patient and follow guidance from specialists during the intervention.
“Autistic children need intervention in their pre-language skills to set up a base for co妹妹unication and language and for social and emotional development. They also need an intervention to develop their playing skills and behaviour,” Anh said.
Quyên said the unit’s multidisciplinary intervention models would be expanded to other provinces and cities.
According to the General Statistics Office, the country had nearly 六. 二 million people with disabilities aged more than 二 years, accounting for 六. 五 per cent of the population in 二0 一 九. Among these, nearly one million people have an autism spectrum disorder.