MULTAN:Multan Commissioner Amir Karim Khan on Wednesday directed officials to send proposals to the Punjab government for setting up an Autism Centre of Excellence in the city, offering modern treatment, education and therapy for affected children.
Chairing a meeting, he sought workable proposals from the departments concerned. Providing quality education, speech therapy, diagnosis and rehabilitation to autistic children in their own city was an urgent need, he said. Such institutions should also guide parents, he added.
The meeting reviewed progress on the “Sound for Students” initiative for children with hearing and speech difficulties. Under the programme, over 3,000 children from 22 institutions across 14 tehsils of the division were screened, and 320 were given hearing aids. Speech therapy for them is continuing.
The commissioner described the effort as a human responsibility rather than a mere official project. He ordered permanent monitoring and an individual progress record for every child.
The meeting was told that improvement among children ranged from five percent in some to six to ten percent in others, and higher in a few. Experts said results depend on the severity of hearing loss, age, audiological assessment, regular use of hearing aids and therapy, so each child’s outcome differs.
The commissioner directed that uniform assessment standards be set to reduce differences between reports from various institutions.
Parents are to be trained in using and maintaining the devices, including battery replacement. Monthly workshops are already being held for them. The commissioner stressed that proper care of hearing aids could be a major challenge for many needy families, and called for parental guidance to become a permanent part of the project. He also asked for quarterly reviews of children’s progress.
The meeting also considered a proposal to introduce a screening system for babies born in Punjab, to detect hearing and other health problems between six and 18 months of age. Consultations with the health department are under way. The commissioner said early diagnosis and timely intervention improve a child’s language, speech and learning prospects.
He said timely diagnosis, suitable education and continuous therapy could help special children become independent and active citizens.