Examples for Early Encouragement

Early Encouragement is offered in many areas. Dr Karl-Heinz Spörkmann from the St. Paulus-Stift explains three of them:

 
Neglecting a hearing disability
can cause serious consequences
© PixelQuelle.de

Impaired Hearing

Dr Spörkmann, at what age and how can impaired hearing be diagnosed?

By now, auditory defects can be diagnosed with a measurement of the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) where a probe is placed in the auditory canal and the ear's acoustic emissions are measured.

What problems do children with impaired hearing have?

They have impairments of their communications behaviour, most of all in their speech development. Later they have problems with their acquisition of literary language and at school. If they are not encouraged or supported enough they may suffer from behavioural problems like being aggressive for example.

How do you help these children?

The ear, nose and throat specialist knows what auxiliary means can be used like hearing aids or the cochlea implant, a surgically implanted electronic device. Afterwards, the child has to learn in therapies how to deal with sounds. Speech therapists help developing their speech.

Which results can be achieved by early encouragement?

Depending on the dimension of the remaining ear impairment after the treatments the results range from normalisation of speech to the use of alternative communication facilities like sign language or being able to apply auxiliary means.

 
During the first weeks children
with Down's Syndrom can develop
normally © PixelQuelle.de

Down's Syndrom

At what age the Down's syndrome can be diagnosed?

It can already be diagnosed in the womb with an amniocentesis which is specially recommended to women over 35. Otherwise it can be diagnosed directly after birth for the Down's syndrome is caused by a chromosome defect.

What kind of early encouragement suits children with Down's syndrome?

If they develop normally during the first weeks we do not do anything. But there are children with heart diseases who are medicated by a heart specialist. Children with Down's syndrome usually develop more slowly, especially concerning their motion and speech. Their parents have to train such things with them patiently because their reactions are slower.

Which results can be achieved by early encouragement?

These children are able to put things into practice and to speak earlier. This has a positive effect on the whole development in later life.

 
Such movements are not easy
for all children © PixelQuelle.de

Impairments of Motor Skills

What problems do children with defective motor skills have?

The motor skills like being able to sit, stand up or run are retarded or even do not exist. Consequently they possibly have problems in their activities and contact with peers, for example when playing together.

At what age can defective motor skills be diagnosed?

It can be diagnosed from babyhood till pre-school age.

How do you help children with motor problems?

There are physical therapies, perhaps occupational therapy, medicinal and surgical measures, supply with auxiliary means or a combination of all these treatments.

What results can be achieved by early encouragement?

Depending on the kind of disorder the child can obtain the regular motor skills or it receives devices for its best possible mobility, for example with the help of a wheelchair.

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