 |
 |
||
 |
|||
-Motivating-Inspiring-Entertaining-Educating-Enlightening-........................................................................................................Best Viewed With Internet Explorer! |
|||
|
|
 |
 |
Daily Tip:
|
How is mental challenge treated? There is no cure. Tests such as newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism, and other metabolic diseases can sometimes prevent mental challenge. Treatment focuses on educational, behavioral, and self-help skills. It is helpful when a mental challenge is diagnosed early in a child's life, so that therapy can begin as soon as possible. However, it is never too late to begin. Some countries offer Early Intervention Programs (EIP) for children aged 0 to 3 years with mental challenge. Some also offer special classes to children between the ages of 3 and 5 years who have special needs. By law, countries are required to provide special education classes for school-age children with mental challenge through 21 years of age. Every school board must tell parents their rights and follow the laws. The school must develop an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) for each child requiring special education. This plan includes: |
|||
"Parents and other family members as well as friends should do their part at home to teach the mentally challenged child and to stress love, understanding and the close ties of family. Children with mental challenge need all of the love, encouragement, and support that they can possibly get"
|
Educational objectives, class placement, a plan for checking progress and any other special services, such as therapy or transportation. The plan must be agreed upon by both the parent and the school. Parents of children with mental challenge often hear of new and different treatments through the media or friends. Your provider can help you decide if these treatments could help or harm your child. How should one deal with such a problem? The earlier the problem is detected the better it is for you and your child. Sometimes parents try to hide the fact until it becomes apparent to all, and by then it is too late to get timely help. There are plenty of child guidance centres and special schools around to provide the perfect environment to aid in the development of the child. But if these facilities are not utilized, a mentally deficient child will definitely develop severe social and emotional problems as well. Parents should try to accept the fact that their child is mentally challenged and help him or her grow to the full potential that he or she is capable of. Some people try for a miraculous cure and expend a lot of time and energy in search of a divine elixir. Even though such an attitude is somehow understandable, it does not show any results. That time will be better spent in admitting your child to a special school or sheltered institution where he can get professional help. Such schools teach the child how to survive and progress in our world. Special skills are taught to them to help them make good use of their time and lives. Each child is given a task that suits his |
||
or her mental growth. Sensory training and perceptual knowledge is stressed on and children are taught utilitarian tasks that will help the child to be more independent. This is normally taught through drill and repetition over a period of years. Besides schools, parents and family members at home also must provide a secure environment for the development of the abilities and interests of the mentally retarded. Parents should not feel awkward and should help their child to socialize with family members, relatives and friends. Subnormal children need more love and affection than the normal child does or they tend to get frustrated. They might not be able to express their needs. So it is up to you to anticipate what they want and give them all the love and strength that they require to help them develop to their full potential. Special schools for learning: The earlier in a child’s life that the mental problem is detected the better it is for everyone concerned. There are many special schools as well as child guidance centers that provide the necessary environment for your child to grow and learn in. These environments not only help the child when it comes to education but also in developing social skills. It also gives them the opportunity to spend time and get to become friends with other mentally challenged children. If a parent shuns these special learning facilities studies have shown that this can lead to greater problems for the mentally challenged child in terms of emotional as well as social difficulties. Skills that are taught and learned: Special schools teach mentally challenged children the skills they need to grow and learn in the world. The tasks the child is given are geared towards his mental growth in as far as he is able to learn, expand and grow. For example, sensory training and perceptual knowledge are taught to mentally challenged children and these are stressed to a great extent and practices many times over. Children are also given tasks in schools that help them to become as independent as they possibly can be. The training allows mentally challenged children a sense of accomplishment and helps to build their sense of self into a positive one. Parents and other family members as well as friends should do their part at home to teach the mentally challenged child and to stress love, understanding and the close ties of family. Children with mental challenge need all of the love, encouragement, and support that they can possibly get
|
|||
Author: Carol
|
|||
 |
|||
