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Growing Gains
Early detection is instrumental in treating childhood developmental delays.
When Efe Osunde could only say a few words by her third birthday, her mother, Donyea Kincade-Osunde, became concerned.
“It took me some time to really realize that something might be wrong because she was born premature. I guess I always thought, ‘she’s just behind. She’ll catch up’,” said Donyea.
It was Efe’s grandmother who suggested that she might have autism. Donyea dismissed it at first. “Then, I read a little bit on the Internet and realized it could be a possibility,” she said.
After her pediatrician performed a developmental screening, she was referred to one of Loyola’s child psychiatrists who determined autism was more than a possibility. Efe did, in fact, have autism.
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Early detection has given Efe and her family a better opportunity to manage her autism. |
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“Children with autism typically have deficits in their language skills as well as their ability to relate to others,” said Melanie Arvanitakis, MS, child development specialist at Loyola. “They often have difficulty maintaining eye contact with others, and they do not demonstrate typical play.”
The Earlier, the Better
“Any time a parent comes in and says, ‘I’m 110 percent sure that my child has autism,’ that in itself is a cause for action,” said April Gann, MS, child development specialist, who works with Donyea and Efe.
Developmental delays in children like Efe are being caught sooner, thanks to a primary screening called Peds and a secondary screening known as Ages and Stages. And for these children, sooner is better.
“We know that therapy services for children at younger ages help maximize their potential because their brains are in the process of development,” notes Jerold Stirling, MD, chair, department of pediatrics.
These screenings, made possible by a grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and available at Loyola, are part of a child’s routine well-child check-ups. They evaluate key areas of development including cognitive, language, motor, behavioral, social-emotional, self-help and pre-academic skills.
Since its inception in July 2007, the program has identified developmental delays in more than 130 children. Depending on the children’s ages, they are referred to either Early Intervention or their local school system, both state programs that provide therapy for young children. Speech, physical and occupational therapy also are available at Loyola as part of the pediatric rehabilitation program.
“It’s a really neat program because you get to see families’ lives change,” said Ms. Gann.
Efe was diagnosed with autism only a short time ago, so her mother and Ms. Gann are still working to get her appropriate treatment.
“Right now, she’s getting speech therapy from the school district,” said Donyea. “We’re still at the beginning stages of getting Efe all the help that she needs.”
Has Your Child Been Screened?
Call (888) LUHS-888 to make an appointment with a Loyola pediatrician or family practice physician. A developmental screening for children under the age of 3 is available upon request.
Related Article
Specialized Pediatric Care in a Convenient Location
The Loyola Center for Children’s Health at Oakbrook Terrace, specialty outpatient care from Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital, is now open! This state-of-the-art clinic offers a full range of pediatric specialties under one roof. And because doctors’ visits can be a bit scary for kids, the new center was designed with vibrant colors and fun themes.
The Loyola Center for Children’s Health at Oakbrook Terrace offers:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pediatric Allergy
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatric Genetics
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Pediatric Rehabilitation Therapies
Multi-disciplinary Clinics:
- Neonatal Follow-up Clinic
- Marfan Syndrome Clinic
- Autism Screening Clinic
Pediatric Surgical Subspecialties:
(Available right next door to our center)
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
- Urology
Schedule an Appointment Today
Ask your doctor about pediatric specialties at Loyola Center for Children’s Health. Call (877) 216-KIDS or (877) 216-5437 today. We are conveniently located at 1S224 Summit Ave., in Oakbrook Terrace.
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