West Bengal’s New Initiative to Identify Autism in Children
The Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare in West Bengal has started a program to find out how many children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During a session with the department’s Minister in Charge, Dr. Shashi Panja, it was shared that 176 children were confirmed to have ASD out of 899 suspected cases. The survey was conducted by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and tested around 49 lakh children aged 18 months to 6 years.
Expert Committee and Screening
An Expert Committee, including Dr. Praveen Kumar Jakati, Dr. J.R. Ram, Dr. Mallika Bannerjee, and Dr. Amitava Das, created a primary screening questionnaire with 20 questions. Children scoring more than four were suspected of having ASD and sent for further tests. The questionnaire was validated and used to survey over 49 lakh children.
Survey Results and Follow-Up
From the survey, 5,840 children were suspected of having ASD. Their records were documented at the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office. These children will be brought to district hospitals or medical colleges every Thursday for diagnostic confirmation. A referral card will be given to caregivers of confirmed cases, and Anganwadi Workers and ASHA/Health Functionaries will follow up on the next checkup dates.
The survey will be conducted every year in November for children aged 18 months to 6 years. The initiative was launched on World Autism Day, April 2, to identify probable cases of ASD in young children.
Doubts Revealed
West Bengal -: West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India. It has a lot of people and is known for its rich culture and history.
Autism -: Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with others. People with autism might have trouble talking or understanding social cues.
Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare -: This is a part of the government in West Bengal that helps take care of women and children. They make sure that women and children get the support and help they need.
Minister Dr. Shashi Panja -: Dr. Shashi Panja is a leader in the West Bengal government. She works to help women and children in the state.
Screening questionnaire -: A screening questionnaire is a set of questions used to find out if someone might have a certain condition, like autism. It helps doctors and experts decide if more tests are needed.
49 lakh -: 49 lakh means 4.9 million. In India, people often use the term ‘lakh’ to talk about large numbers. One lakh is equal to 100,000.
World Autism Day -: World Autism Day is a special day on April 2nd every year. It helps people learn more about autism and support those who have it.
