18-June-2012 ARTI S. SAHULIYAR
With stigma waning, counselling of children with learning disability is on the rise, says Rinpas expert JHARKHAND : A hyperactive eight-year-old is smart enough to operate all the functions of his parents' high-end mobile phone, but fumbles when asked to rattle off math tables. A sensitive teenager is a bookworm, but exams stump her. These are not mentally challenged children with below-average IQ. On the contrary, they are intelligent in every way, but parental and social pressure to excel has robbed them of their focus - and sometimes, confidence to cope. Earlier, these children did not get a second chance. But now, counsellors, parents and teachers in Ranchi have teamed up to give these children with "learning disabilities" a shot at being well-adjusted students. Currently, the capital's premier mental health institute Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (Rinpas) registers 12 to 15 cases of such children in a month. Experts say parental or peer pressure results in developmental disorder or disturbances. Social and biological conflicts also adversely impact a child's overall mental development. Unlike earlier, the capital is not brushing these cases under the carpet. More and more parents approach psychologists. "Earlier, stigma held parents back from bringing their wards for professional guidance. Now, with extensive counselling, we have convinced parents and teachers that instead of keeping quiet, they should come to us," said Rinpas director Amool Ranjan Singh. M.K. Sinha, the principal of a well-known cradle DAV Kapil Dev, admitted that learning disabilities were on the rise, but said increased parental pressure had a large part to play in making a child more vulnerable or anxious. "Every child can't come first in class. But unrealistic expectations harm both the child and the parent. We invite counsellors on regular basis to overcome such situations so that the children's academics do not suffer," Sinha said. The Rinpas director added learning disorder had always been prevalent, but not classified as such earlier. In the past, neither were people aware of psychological stumbling blocks and nor was doing superlatively in academics the overwhelming priority in all homes, he said. "It is indeed a good sign that even parents are sensitive to this issue now and bring youngsters to us. But though taboos related to counselling have loosened, the problem has also grown. Children confide that their parents put pressure on them to perform well in academics. The definition of 'doing well' confuses them and makes them feel they are not good enough even if they are otherwise okay," the Rinpas director said. Children and parents are counselled extensively. In extreme cases, schoolchildren aged 10-14 years are admitted at the 22-bed child ward. "Normally, we don't admit children. If needed, they are admitted between 10 days and a month for behavioural therapy," the director added. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120618/jsp/jharkhand/story_15623377.jsp#.T98XGxdo3xo -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
