10 Sep 2008
ORILLIA – Is there anything worse for a mom or dad than a child who throws themselves on the mall floor in a fit of frustration and anger as curious shoppers look on?
If there is, many parents would say they haven’t experienced it yet.
Difficulty in managing everyday setbacks and the resulting angry outbursts is one of the main reasons parents bring their children for professional help at the Let’s Grow Screening Centre in Orillia.
“Parents know when something is amiss with their child,” says Becki Bernhardt, a public health nurse who helps with screening, “but they may have difficulty pinning down the specific problem. It’s the not-knowing that can cause a lot of fear and concern.”
Aggression can be triggered by a great many things, some of which could be related to other problems the child is having. Sorting through the list of potential issues is made a lot easier thanks to the screening process. Friendly, knowledgeable people are ready to hear parents’ concerns.
Local children’s services staff team-up to run the Let’s Grow Centre, offering parents expertise from the wide range of services at
- Catulpa Community Support Services Early Intervention Program,
- Children’s Therapy Services from Soldier’s Memorial Hospital,
- Simcoe Community Services Infant Development Program,
- the Simcoe County Preschool Speech and Language Program from Royal Victoria Hospital,
- and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, to name a few.
Critical to most parents is that the consultation service is free, making it available to all income levels. The Ontario Early Years Centre on Colborne Street West, where the screenings are held, has parking and is also available by public transit.
The Let’s Grow Screening program is built on research that shows the most important development a person goes through is in the first four or five years of their life. Screenings are offered to children under 5 years of age.
“So much is going on in a child in those first few years that just a little change can put them on a more positive path,” says Bernhardt. “But the older they get, the harder it is to successfully work on a developmental problem. The later some challenges are identified, the more intensive the work may need to be to get a child ready to enter school.”
The screening a child receives helps to determine whether they’re on track in developing the skills appropriate for their age.
Very often, the results turn out to be a reassurance to mom or dad that their child is progressing within the expected range for their age. In fact, questionnaires after screenings often contain comments from parents like ”very friendly,” “I was put at ease,” and “it’s nice to know where my child is at.”
The screening process is the same for everyone who comes through the doors. A children’s services professional asks a standard set of questions and then makes recommendations, the entire process usually takes about an hour.
The questionnaire covers areas such as communication, problem solving, motor skills and personal and social interaction. It sets the groundwork for the screener to consult with parents to decide whether help is needed, and what kind of help that might be.
“The process can be quite revealing and helpful, because if a child is lagging in one area, it might be affecting them in other areas, too,” says Bernhardt. Aggression might actually be triggered by an underlying speech problem that leaves the child frustrated when he or she is trying to be understood. Poor eye-hand coordination might make some simple chores difficult; a parent could unknowingly trigger a child’s anger by pushing them to accomplish what they’re not comfortable attempting.
“Even when the screening identifies the child as within range for their age, if the parents remain concerned, we may refer them along for more in-depth assessment – because a parent always knows their child best,” Bernhardt adds.
Parents are sometimes cautioned about the length of time it may take to get follow-up services. Speech and communication issues are the most frequently identified problems and as a result, the Preschool Speech and Language Program has a long waiting list. This highlights the importance of getting help early, as soon as you have concerns about your child.
Whenever follow up services are recommended, the professionals who deliver those services will try to shape a program the parents can use – one that respects their busy lives and helps them understand the services that are being offered for their child.
It may take time but it’s all time well spent, Bernhardt says, especially when the child is in those early, formative years.
Parents who would like to know more about the Let’s Grow Screening Centre can contact
- Your Health Connection at 721-7520, or 1-877-721-7520 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- or visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
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