Experts urge early intervention for children with developmental delays

Health professionals, therapists and special education experts have urged parents to seek early assessment and intervention for children showing signs of developmental delays, stressing that timely support can improve their communication, learning, social interaction and quality of life.

The experts said parents should pay attention to developmental milestones, including speech, movement and social interaction, and seek professional help when they notice delays rather than allow misconceptions, denial or financial constraints to prevent children from receiving appropriate care.

They called for greater public awareness and improved access to affordable healthcare, therapy and inclusive education to ensure that financial constraints and misinformation did not prevent children from receiving essential support.

They advised during a free family consultation and therapy outreach for children with special needs organised by Triple A Foundation in collaboration with Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre at Graine Royale Inclusive School, Ijaiye, Ojokoro, Lagos.

The outreach brought together medical professionals, speech and language specialists, behavioural analysts, nutritionists, audiologists, counsellors and occupational therapists to provide consultations, assessments and guidance to families who might otherwise struggle to access or afford specialised services.

The Programme Director of Triple A Foundation, Miss Subomi Ajibola, said the initiative was designed to bridge gaps in support for children with special needs, especially those with autism.

Ajibola, who said the foundation’s name stands for Advocate for Autism Awareness Foundation, noted that the organisation’s programmes included workshops, training, community outreaches, awareness campaigns and family subsidy initiatives.

She explained that collaboration with Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre, Pure Souls Learning Foundation, government agencies, primary healthcare facilities and educational institutions would help the foundation reach more families and connect them with available services.

“We are bringing therapy services closer to families who may not ordinarily have access to them,” she said.

Ajibola said the outreach followed months of planning, resource mobilisation and coordination, with more than 80 staff members involved in activities at the venue. Community mobilisation and radio outreach were also used to inform families about the programme.

She said the process involved registration, collection of children’s developmental histories, assessment and referral to appropriate specialists and nearby primary healthcare centres for further support.

The foundation also intended to subsidise services for as many families as its resources would permit, she added, urging individuals and organisations to support its work.

“This work requires collaboration. What we are doing here is reaching one community and one school, but there are millions of people across the country who also need support,” Ajibola said.

The Founder of Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre and Pure Souls Learning Foundation, Mrs Dotun Akande, said the outreach would help families understand their children’s developmental needs and access professional guidance.

Akande said developmental challenges could include speech and language difficulties, behavioural conditions, cerebral palsy, autism and other disabilities.

She urged parents to pay attention to signs such as a child not speaking by the age of two, using very few words or having difficulty understanding language.

“Early speech and language therapy helps children develop their communication abilities and reach their full potential,” she said.

Akande advised parents to engage children at their level, use familiar objects and activities to encourage communication, and teach practical self-help skills. She added that pictures, gestures and signs could support children who had difficulty communicating through speech.

She also called on the government to provide social support and make therapy services more affordable and accessible.

“The government also has a responsibility to provide social support and make therapy more affordable and accessible to families,” Akande said.

The Senior Medical Officer at Iwa Primary Health Centre, Ojokoro Local Government Area, Dr Adeyemi Adebayo, said developmental challenges could become apparent at different stages of a child’s growth, making it important for parents and healthcare providers to monitor developmental milestones.

He advised parents to observe their children’s communication, movement, social interaction and ability to respond to others, stressing that concerns about a child’s progress should prompt professional assessment.

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“Early assessment is important because it helps us identify developmental challenges and provide appropriate intervention as soon as possible,” Adebayo said.

He cautioned against misconceptions attributing developmental disorders to spiritual forces or unsupported claims about vaccines and food, saying misinformation could prevent families from seeking appropriate care.

“We need to address these misconceptions through proper education, increased awareness and access to reliable medical information,” he said.

Adebayo added that children with speech, behavioural, cognitive and other developmental challenges deserved compassionate care and access to appropriate services.

The Co-Director of Graine Royale Inclusive School, Mrs Modupe Philips-Adeyemo, said inclusive education recognised each child’s abilities and provided the support needed to help them learn alongside their peers.

“What inspired us is our belief that there is an ability in disability,” she said.

Philips-Adeyemo explained that the school assessed children to determine their individual needs and developed Individualised Educational Plans to guide their learning and support.

Depending on the outcome of an assessment, a child could receive speech therapy, behavioural support or assistance from a shadow teacher to participate more effectively in classroom activities.

“We provide therapy three times a week. We also assess the children every six weeks to monitor their progress and identify areas that may require additional intervention,” she said.

She stressed the importance of involving parents in the process, noting that cooperation between families and educators was essential for monitoring children’s progress and maintaining consistent support.

A parent and special-needs therapist, Mrs Modupe Sekumade, urged families who noticed developmental delays in their children to seek professional help rather than remain in denial or assume that a diagnosis meant the end of their children’s prospects.

Sekumade said finding appropriate care for her son was initially challenging, but consultations with a paediatrician and subsequent interventions helped the family understand his needs.

Her experience later motivated her to train as a special-needs therapist, enabling her to support her child and other families.

“My advice to parents is that if they notice any developmental delay, they should not see it as a death sentence. They should ask questions and seek help,” she said.

She also highlighted the financial and social difficulties faced by families, including the high cost of inclusive education and therapy. She recounted experiencing stigma and rejection, saying her family had to make significant sacrifices to secure appropriate support for her son.

Sekumade called on the government to collaborate with organisations already providing specialised services to expand awareness and reach families unable to afford private care.

“The government should also collaborate with private organisations that are already providing these services effectively so that we can expand awareness and reach more families, especially those who cannot afford specialised care,” she said.

Another parent, Mrs Oluwatoyin Azeez, described caring for a child with special needs as financially and emotionally demanding because of the cost of medication, therapy and repeated medical appointments.

Azeez, who said she had been widowed for more than 16 years, expressed hope that the outreach would connect her with people and services that could help her care for her daughter.

“My expectation is to find someone who can support me in caring for my daughter,” she said.

She appealed to the government, organisations and individuals to provide financial, medical and empowerment support to families raising children with special needs.

“Caring for these children is not easy, and we need help in different areas, including financial assistance, empowerment and medical support,” Azeez said.