Hospital’s EDIS department helps ease developmental delays

Lance Cpl. David Rogers
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF

Ann Marshall always had a hard time answering when other parents and kids asked the same question: “Why isn’t he talking?” She couldn’t really answer because she never really knew why her 18-month-old son, Wesley, wasn’t talking.

When the pediatrician recommended her son attend therapy at Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, she didn’t take it well. She didn’t like the thought of Wesley ending up in a special education class.

“I was devastated — is probably a good word,” said Marshall, a stay-at-home mom. “I don’t know if it scared me or just made me wonder what I didn’t do for him.”

With advancements in detection tools used to identify children with developmental delays, more children are getting needed treatment, according to Lt. Cmdr. Arlene Saitzyk, a clinical psychologist with EDIS.

The mission of EDIS, a department of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, is to maximize the educational potential of children who have developmental delays or who are at risk for developmental delays.

The Early Intervention Services is one of the most important services the department’s staff would like all parents to know about, according to Saitzyk. Early Intervention Services screen children ages three and younger for early development issues.

“A child’s brain develops quickly in the first three years,” Tanenbaum said, “more than any other time in a person’s life. People used to believe they were just playing and children didn’t learn anything until they entered school. Now, we know it’s the first few years that are the most important.”

The Early Intervention Services of EDIS has a team of early childhood educators, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, child psychologists and developmental pediatricians.

The same professionals helped Marshall realize her child’s speech difficulties were not her fault. Wesley’s speech appears to be his only deficiency, and when his speech abilities catch up with his peers, he won’t need to attend a special needs program in pre-school.

“A lot of times they go through our program, quickly building skills, and they don’t need special education,” said Doreen Tanenbaum, an early childhood special educator for EDIS. “That’s the beauty of early intervention.”

Parents can use a simple questionnaire to rate the frequency of specific communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, personal and social abilities their baby should have.

After analyzing the questionnaire, Early Intervention Service staff members call parents for further evaluations of children who show significant deficiencies in any area, according to Tanenbaum. Parents and Early Intervention Service staff conduct a comprehensive interview with the children to mutually decide what’s best for the child and set up an individual family support plan.

“Parents are the children’s first teacher and the teacher that will be with them for the rest of their lives,” Tanenbaum said. “Giving them the skills they need in the home is very important”

A medical evaluation can be performed on children suspected of having medical conditions contributing to their developmental delays, according to Army Maj. Michelle Ervin, a developmental pediatrician with EDIS.

“If a child is found to have significant enough delays, part of the reason could be an underlying issue,” Ervin said.

Marshall and her son have attended therapy at EDIS for almost a year. Currently, they attend a transition class to prepare him for pre-school at Bob Hope Primary School. Marshall says EDIS therapies helped her son, who is now two, control his temper, perform daily routines and improve his overall behavior. Wesley hasn’t started talking yet, but Marshall is better prepared for her son to attend special needs classes and is grateful for the progress EDIS professionals helped her son make.

“If I say kisses and hugs, he understands,” Marshall said. “I am just waiting to hear him say ‘I love you momma.'”

Parents interested in having their child screened should call EDIS at 634-2747.