Constituency Served

Children aged birth-6 years with communication (speech-language) and other related disorders.

Details of Work

Communication DEALL (Developmental Eclectic Approach to Language Learning) is an early intervention program for children with communication disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Specific Language Impairment (SLI), and Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD). It aims at maximizing their potential through intensive preschool intervention. The Communication DEALL program grew out of concern for the increasing number of children identified with developmental language disorders and the lack of adequate intervention programs for them. Over the last couple of decades the incidence of developmental disorders such as SLI, DVD, PDD and Autism, which were earlier thought to be rare disorders, has risen alarmingly. As of now intensive early intervention is the most promising approach for alleviation of these disorders. The Communication DEALL program is a response to the near total lack of such facilities in India. It was developed by Dr Prathibha Karanth, a pioneer in the field of Speech-Language Pathology in India. The program provides intensive stimulation and training (3 hours/day, 5 days /week, over an academic year) to groups of preschool children with developmental disorders. The major thrust of the training module is on communication with due consideration given to the cognitive, social and behavioral aspects of the child's development. Communication DEALL is a self- financed program managed by a multidisciplinary team of Speech-Language pathologists, occupational therapists and developmental educators/ psychologist. Children are assessed for language-communication, motor, and social development, as well as behavioral issues and receive intervention in all these areas. The DEALL staff works in individual, small group sessions (3 to 4 children/therapist) as well as large group sessions (6-12 children). Ideally, enrollment in DEALL should take place by the age of 2 ½ years giving the child the maximum possibility of attaining age appropriate behavior by the school entry age of 5 ½ years. Children who attain the goal of age appropriate skills and behavior by the end of the first or second year are integrated in regular school at such time.