Maharashtra is one of the five states in India that has the highest number of people with disabilities, as per the 2011 census.
The number of children having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the highest as compared to other learning or intellectual disabilities, shows a study done by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and New Horizons Health and Research Foundation (NHHRF) on 1,301 children with special needs seeking multidisciplinary intervention at New Horizon Child Development Centre over four years.
In the dissemination programme organised by TISS, NHHRF and Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan, it was found that 807 children were brought in with behavioural concerns and 117 with emotional concerns — 422 had ADHD, 226 had Intellectual Disability (ID), 124 had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and 116 had Specific Learning Disability (SLD).
Previous studies, namely Venkata and Panicker, 2013, and Bhagya and Ramakrishna, 2013, too had highlighted the high prevalence of ADHD and ID.
The objective of the study was to gain a thorough understanding about assessment and intervention in childhood developmental and psychological disorders, to stimulate further research and reduce gaps in research on childhood developmental and psychological disorders, and to study the effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions for childhood disorders.
Dr Samir Dalwai, developmental paediatrician and chairperson of Childhood Disability Group, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, said, "Children with mild ADHD, which is not even considered a disability, suffer the most. They are labelled naughty, clumsy, irritating, manipulative, disinterested in studies, lazy and inconsistent, and abused at, shouted at, beaten and neglected. These children need to be seen by a developmental paediatrician and a team of OT psychologists. A remedial educator also needs to be part of this team, if the child has academic problems. The team needs to make a documented evaluation report and a six-month road map with goals."
Dr Vrinda Dutta, professor, Centre for Human Ecology, TISS, emphasised on the need for multidisciplinary community-based models for large-scale implementation and dealing with roadblocks encountered.
"The study revealed a high percentage of secondary conditions in children with a primary diagnosis of a disability, thus necessitating the need for multidisciplinary intervention," said Chetna Duggal, associate professor, TISS.
Deepti Kanade Modak, a psychologist with NHHRF, highlighted the need for taking up the cause of early childhood development and health as a mission by every individual, especially corporate leaders and those in government.
TISS-NHHRF study findings
422 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
266 children with Intellectual Disability
124 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
116 children with Specific Learning Disability
2011 censusspeak
Percentage of disabled population
Sikkim: 2.98
Odisha: 2.95
Jammu & Kashmir: 2.88
Andhra Pradesh: 2.68
Maharashtra: 2.64
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