Mobile use, nuclear family culture surging speech delay, autism cases among kids: Jammu Pediatrician

Jammu, Oct 18 : Expressing concern over child development personality renowned Jammu based paediatrician Dr Vikas Mahajan have said that long hours mobile use, nuclear family culture is surging cases of autism and speech delay among kids in the Jammu region.
Dr Mahajan, who is supervising two Child Developmental Centres (one in Jammu and another recently introduced on Tuesday in Kathua district) expressed that speech delay cases are swelling with each passing day and the key factors found responsible are long hour mobile (screen) use and nuclear family culture.
“As per the guidelines, use of cell phones below the age of two years is not recommended and parents need to understand it because it is not helping in brain stimulation in kids,” said the Child Specialist.
“Learning through mobile is passive but not the active that leads to lesser interactions and causes speech delay,” said the doctor.
“Nuclear family culture is well accepted in the western countries and it has also started rooting in the Indian societies as well, which is worrying and a cause of concern,” Dr Mahajan stated.
“In joint family culture grand parents interact with kids, play with them, teach them that triggers brain stimulation,” he said, adding that delayed speech must be diagnosed at the age between one to three years else it may get worse.
“Out of social stigma, parents are not openly speaking and discussing this, which is the need of the hour for timely diagnosis and treatment,” he said, adding that by the time parents find their kids not responding actively, they consult the Child Developmental Centres.
Bollywood movie ‘Taare Zameen Par’ is the best example for the parents who are taking this problem as a taboo and yet not open to it and freely discussing it with the doctors, the doctor said and added, “the treatment depends upon the diagnosis and it may take three to six months and more than year as well in worst cases.”
“Awareness on speech delay and autism is must and now several clinics have started ‘flag signs’ to make people aware with a message not to feel shy in discussing their child behaviour and personality development for timely treatment,” said the paediatrician.
Dr Mahajan said that the first ever specialised Child Developmental Centre (CDC) has been opened in Kathua under his supervision to facilitate the people moving to the metropolitan cities or the neighbouring states for the treatment of their children.
“The Delhi based specialists Dr Nikhil and Dr Sangeeta are trained in management of kids with speech delay, autism, child physiotherapy,” he added.