AR
UR
Speech delays and learning difficulties in children are often wrongly diagnosed as autism. According to Dr Anwar Sallam, SEHA's chief medical officer, children often miss important milestones in their lives because of limited interaction with their peers. Online schooling during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted children's social interaction with their peers.
Addressing the 16th International Paediatrics Health Conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday, the top health official said that the pandemic has impacted children physically, mentally, emotionally and socially, further resulting in a delay in their overall development. These indications are being wrongly taken as signs of autism, he added.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in 160 children globally is believed to be autistic. Some of the known symptoms include repetitive speech or phrases and oversensitivity to sound. Autism is characterised by difficulties in communication and restrictive or repetitive behaviours.
Need for intervention
Dr Sallam further called for immediate intervention in such instances. However, he urged parents to not to expect the situation to improve overnight.
“Literally everyone and particularly children have been affected by the pandemic. Children are spending more time in front of computers. We understand it is for learning but we know that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to childhood obesity and other disorders," he added.
He underlined that the rate of childhood obesity in the UAE is higher than in other countries.
COVID-19 impact
According to a March 2021 study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention which surveyed 27,754 parents, pupils were found to be 46 percent less physically active than before the pandemic.
The study added that the lack of physical activity combined with increased use of electronic devices and ordering food from restaurants resulted in the rise in obesity levels in the country.
“That’s just one way the pandemic has affected children,” Dr Sallam underlined.
He further pointed out that many children have come socially withdrawn due to limited interaction with others. During the pandemic lockdown, children were not able to go out so there were not socialising at all.
“They were not even socialising with their own extended family members. All these things reflected on their overall mental health and psychological well-being. It resulted in speech delay that was unfortunately interpreted as autism," Dr Sallam stressed.
In conclusion, the official called on parents to seek help at an early stage if they observe any symptoms or red flags.
Hope for normal day-to-day life
With the pandemic expected to be over soon and things returning back to normal routine, the official expressed hope for a decline in psychological problems in children.
“There is always the need for early intervention but early diagnosis is more important. We need to ensure that our children are being seen and assessed by experts," he added.
SOURCE: The National News