World Autism Awareness Day 2-4: Understanding to Love

Need a lot of patience

At 26 months old, D.QS, a Dao ethnic, from village 7, Yen Phu commune (Ham Yen) still cannot say familiar single words such as "grandpa", "grandma", "dad", "mom". He also has reduced attention, lack of concentration, no response when called by name, no interaction with smiles or eye contact. Since the beginning of March, his family has taken him to Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital for examination and is being actively guided to change his behavior, learn language, and practice movement. Like many other normal children, he is still enthusiastic when playing on the slide and playing with skill toys, but his face does not show any interest, his mouth does not make round sounds, and he does not laugh.

Nurses closely monitor the treatment process of autistic children.

Not every autistic child cooperates with nurses like D.QS when he sits down at the 1:1 desk from the very first days. Crying, screaming, biting his own limbs, banging his head against the wall... are reactions that any nursing staff at Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital has experienced when dealing with autistic children. For those who have been involved in helping children recover day after day, month after month, even for many years, these are just normal reactions of children who do not know how to express their emotions properly, like a young tree branch that needs to be gradually shaped.

16 years of working with autistic children, is also the same number of years that Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom, nurse of the Department of Physical Therapy - Occupational Therapy - Speech Therapy - Psychotherapy, Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital has accompanied people with special circumstances. It is a long journey that requires patience and a lot of love.

“There is no specific lesson plan for autistic children because each child has a different way of expressing themselves, a different need, a different interest that teachers must gradually get used to and then be flexible with their lessons and teaching methods. Being patient with the children is not enough, sometimes the whole family must be encouraged to accompany the child. Many children have reactions such as crying and hurting themselves, causing many parents to want to stop the treatment. The child cries in class, the grandmother cries outside... but the golden time for treatment will pass if the doctors, nurses and family are not persistent” - nurse Thom shared.

Nurture love

“Reducing distance, lowering yourself to increase attention, increase trust for the children”, “You yourself have to adjust your emotions”, “Becoming a relative like a family member to the children”... are the ways that doctors and nurses at Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital gradually guide autistic children to integrate into the community with love. It is a special job that requires enthusiasm and dedication not only to the patients but also to the patients' families.

Autistic children receive treatment and play at Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital.

Doctor CKI Vu Hoai Thu, Department of Traditional Medicine Pediatrics, Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital is a doctor with a lot of experience in screening and diagnosing autism syndrome in children. And unlike doctors in other regular hospitals, before diagnosing autism spectrum disorder, Doctor Thu often has conversations with relatives and families, skillfully gets to know the children and gives age-appropriate tests to assess the condition of each child, thereby having appropriate treatment directions.

“The examination, diagnosis and conclusion take a lot of time, it can last from 2 to 3 weeks, the children also have to go through many combined tests and assessments. Sometimes the most difficult thing is not the diagnosis, conclusion or the process of putting the child into treatment, but above all it is the family's psychology when the parents do not accept the fact that their child has autism”. - Dr. Thu shared. And to skillfully help parents get acquainted, accept and accompany their children, the doctor also has his own principles in his working process: Do not rush to conclusions, meticulously guide the family, remind about the "golden time" to accompany the child, give bright spots of hope, use positive words but do not hide the difficulties... From there, parents are ready in mind, spirit and strength to accompany autistic children.

Treating autism with love therapy is the way to create a safe, compassionate, understanding environment to help autistic children develop their communication skills, control their personal emotions and gradually integrate into the community. In fact, this is not a medical treatment but a humane approach that anyone in society can contribute to fill in the gaps, creating an environment for autistic children to grow up and recover with love. And the doctors and nurses at Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital have been creating that environment to fulfill their mission.

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/ngay-the-gioi-nhan-thuc-ve-tu-ky-2-4-thau-hieu-de-yeu-thuong-209349.html