Psychological counselling department for children at Latifa Hospital receives over 500 children this year

Amal Al Shamlan, head of the rehabilitation unit at Latifa Hospital, said, "This year we received 519 cases, of which 157 are new cases. 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."

Al Shamlan said, "The cases the department received are varied. "We have been seeing patients with several kinds of behavioural problems. This year we conducted IQ testing for some of these children to gauge whether they can enrol themselves in a mainstream school or whether they require special schooling."

"Our services also 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 Latifa Hospital," she added.

Al Shamlan said, "The services provided include developmental screening for children below three years of age, specialized assessment to diagnose psychological problems as well as assessment of cognitive/mental abilities."

Al Shamlan added, "We have also set up a play therapy room, which is equipped with all the necessary therapy tools. The unit will also provide psychotherapy and behaviour modification for children."

Shamlan added, "The sensory integration room has been updated by adding new 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. Children who have autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and hyperactivity, suffer from these disabilities. The unit has specialized occupational therapists that are well trained to provide therapy for such patients."

The rehabilitative service at Latifa 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.