Better Speech and Hearing for children

Posted by Deon Morgan 
 

Ms. Karrian DeCastro , master in speech pathology, celebrated with her profession in "Better Speech and Hearing Month" this May. Advocating for persons with disability and autism, she stated that sensitivity to the physiological and psychological struggles faced by these persons, is needed. 

 

 

As a speech pathologist, Ms. DeCastro treats speaking, swallowing and voice disorders. In addition, a special focus within her profession aids parents and children of autism to cope.  Ms. DeCastro stated that autism, a spectrum disorder, is on the rise. For suffers, it is very frustrating and causes emotional disturbances at the low end of the spectrum. This results in social impairment, as the actions of the autistic may seem strange, when they are unable to communicate their needs.

 

 There is a distress experienced by the autistic, for example, when the sensory nerves are exposed to light or sound. Ms. DeCastro advised that screening within the first three years of birth (that is, early stage screening) and using developmental pediatricians, could help to reduce the distress. Thanks to early stage detection as well, and use of specially trained practitioners, in some high end disorders, the autistic have learned to read and write.

 

Ms. DeCastro stressed the importance of early screening for disabilities in general. She stated that a hearing loss test for example, should be done during the period of cognitive development of sound recognition, i.e. during the first six months of birth. Since permanent hearing loss affects 3 out of every 3000 live births. A hearing loss test at birth and then 3 months after would allow the child to be fitted with hearing aids as deemed necessary. Other early stage tests may include an ABR, which shows how the brain responds to sound.

 

Finally she expressed concern for the little support in the BVI for the autistic and their parents. Ms. DeCastro said that neurologists, teachers and pathologists are needed as part of the support structure, as currently parents have to travel off-island to get medical help for the children. Parents would also need counseling as autism is sometimes not accepted, and in general it is a frustrating condition to face daily.