About Us
The Autism program is an outpatient program providing diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services to children with Autism or under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program started in 2012 at the Child Development Center and has helped many patients and their families.
The program provides blocks of direct intensive management for three months for a group of 40- 45 children at any point of time followed by follow up appointment on intervals as per the child an dfamily needs
Our goal is to provide evidence-based Autism specific assessments and early intervention Services. We aim to provide each child and family with an individualized service plan based on children strengths and needs and family goals, resources and priorities
- Comprehensive multidisciplinary developmental assessment, skill, functional assessments and diagnostic assessments using internationally approved tools and measures
- Medical and nursing interventions as required
- Behavioral management strategies
- Sensory integration programs / activities
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Special education
- Life skills training
- Assistive technology
- Family/ caregiver training courses
- Performance reviews
- Individual / group activities
- Social skills training
- Psychological interventions
Who We Treat
- Children above the age of three with an established diagnosis of ASD or those at high risk of ASD for diagnostic purposes
- Intervention services to children with autism between the ages of three and six years old
- Children should require team of professionals input but not one discipline.
Our Team
- Program Coordinator
- Physician
- Nurses
- Pediatric Psychologist
- Behavior Management Specialist
- Speech Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Special Education Teachers
Referral to The Program
The program accepts referrals only from HMC Child Development Center’s physician to make best use of the program and resources for the right group of children
What Will Happen After The Referral?
- Upon receiving a referral to the Autism Program it will be determined if your child is already diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or not.
- If your child is already diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder:
- Your child will automatically be scheduled for family education by the team.
- Family education is given to ensure that families are aware of what ASD is and to educate and equip them with other related difficulties that they are and will be facing. This makes the family confident enough to manage different challenging issues.
- Once enrolled in the program the child will undergo comprehensive assessments of level of function that will feed into an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- The intervention program will run for two months and the family will be attending about six therapy sessions per week
- The child will be receiving both individual and group therapy sessions according to his needs and capability.
- Once your child completes the program, reassessment will be done to confirm the progress and the existing challenges that the child is having. Referral to the Outpatient Departments will be created.
- Your child will then be placed for regular follow up appointments until they turn six and will be seen by the different specialists as needed,
- A home instruction program will be given to the family.
- At the age of six the child will be discharged from the program ahead of that communication regarding transition to best level of care will take place.
- If your child has not yet been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder but has been referred for screening:
- If the child is three years and under, he/she will be scheduled for the Autism Early Detection and Screening Program
- If the child is above three years of age, or he /she was enrolled in the Screening Program and he reaches this age, they will be scheduled for the Diagnostic Clinical Observation.
- The child will be evaluated by different specialists in the team who will decide if they need to undergo a standardized test - Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
- Once the test is done, the child will be scheduled for a News Breaking Appointment
- If your child was not diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the physician will refer him to the Outpatients Departments according to the child needs.
- If your child was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, they will then undergo the same schedule of processes as mentioned above.
- At a stage to be determined, a reassessment will be conducted to determine the progress and the existing difficulties that the family is facing and your child is still exhibiting.
- Follow up appointments will be provided until the child reaches six to guarantee that they are receiving appropriate services and support.
- The child will then be discharged from the program to the best next level of care.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Red Flags ( patient and family information )
