(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Psychological counselling unit at Latifa Hospital helps children integrate with mainstream school
Faisal's endless energy levels, speech problems and lack of communication made him a difficult boy to be handled, both at school and at home. While he was shuttled from one school to another, and at one point rejected by all, Faisal, who then was nine, was the cause of serious concern for his family.
"Finally he was asked to leave a mainstream school because he simply could not cope," explained Fatma, Faisal's elder sister.
"We were at a loss and did not know how to deal with the situation." The 11-year-old Emirati appeared normal at home but his teachers said that Faisal was hyperactive and had a major problem in communicating: "He was bullied at school, remained aloof and was not sociable at all, probably because of his lack of confidence due to speech problems," said Fatma. The family speaks English, Arabic and Swahili at home: "We thought it was because of the three languages that he got confused."
"There were no mainstream schools or facilities that could handle him," she added.
It was then that a school guided the family to the psychological counselling unit at Latifa Hospital in Dubai: "They said it would help ... and it was then that my mother took the decision to undergo treatment."
Today, after having completed a year of two therapies with the centre, one each for speech and behaviour, Faisal is a much smarter and more confident boy. Psychological therapy one hour in week has brought about drastic changes in his personality, said Fatma.
No medication is required for such cases, said Amal Al Shamlan, head of the unit at the hospital.
"They just need a psychologist's guidance, and sometimes the family needs it too," she added. In 2012, more than 500 children visited the psychological counselling department within the rehabilitation services section at Latifa Hospital:"We received 519 cases, of which 157 were new cases," said Amal.
"In the last quarter of 2011, we received 203 cases of which 82 were new cases. While the majority of cases were children below the age of 13, we did provide family counselling for some families whose children and adults both suffered from physiological problems." The cases received at the department are varied: "We see patients with several kinds of behavioural problems," said Amal. "This year we conducted IQ testing for some of these children to gauge whether they are fit to be enrolled in a mainstream school or whether they require special schooling," she added.
Children with neurological issues, hyperactivitism, behavioural problems, Down Syndrome and others under the autism spectrum, are among the cases that are seen at the centre. While 70 per cent of the cases seen are Emirati nationals, expatriates are also treated at the centre. "Our services include keeping a check on the academic integration of the children in public and private schools with the cooperation of the social service unit at the hospital," explained Amal.
A play therapy room equipped with all the necessary therapy tools has also been set up while the unit will also provide psychotherapy and behaviour modification for children. The sensory integration room has been updated by adding modern technology to provide integrated sensory treatment: "This therapeutic approach is known to be one of the important approaches in the treatment of neurological dysfunction and difficulties to process various sensory stimuli such as light, sound, touch and balance." Rehabilitative services at the hospital include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, therapy for language and swallowing difficulties, neonatal developmental and assessment of premature infants as well as fabrication of orthotics. The centre also provides educational classes for parents to help them cope with the situation so that they can support their children. "The family is an important part of the treatment because they are the most stressed, especially the caregivers such as the mothers," said Amal.
According to Fatma, the therapy has changed Faisal: "He appears more confident, motivated and seems to know more. Doctors say that by the age of 14, Faisal will be as near a normal child as possible."
After much struggle, Faisal has also been accepted by a mainstream school, though he remains a grade behind his peers.
Though Arabic remains a problem, the family is in talks with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to allow him to study 'Arabic B', the easier version that expatriates are required to study in the UAE.
By Asma Ali Zain
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