Latest news with #AutismSpectrumDisorder
Web Release
12 minutes ago
- Health
- Web Release
Aster Clinics and DYU Healthcare Launch Integrated Child Development Centre in Dubai
Aster Clinics, a leading integrated healthcare provider under Aster DM Healthcare GCC, in collaboration with DYU Healthcare, a prominent leader in child development services, has announced the opening of a new Integrated Child Development Centre in Bur Dubai, Dubai. This innovative centre offers a holistic approach to child development, providing a comprehensive range of interdisciplinary therapy services tailored to the unique needs of children of all abilities. An extension of Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (AJMC), the centre offers screening, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention services designed to enhance key developmental areas such as mobility, strength, coordination, cognition, communication, social skills, and emotional growth. By nurturing these abilities, the centre empowers children to navigate the world with greater confidence and independence. The centre follows a unique interdisciplinary model, bringing together medical doctors and rehabilitation professionals to develop individualized care plans tailored to each child's specific needs. Services include screening and diagnosis of developmental delays, neurodevelopmental, communication, and motor disorders, as well as behavioral assessments. Evaluations cover speech and language skills, sensory integration, IQ testing, and special education needs, addressing conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, and speech-language disorders. As part of its comprehensive diagnostic framework, the centre offers Psycho-Educational Analysis to integrate insights across disciplines and create personalized intervention plans. Equipped with internationally recognized assessment tools, it ensures evidence-based care across all stages—from screening to therapy—for children aged 0–16 years. What sets this centre apart is its seamless collaboration between medical and rehabilitation teams, combining hospital and clinic-based care under one roof. DYU Healthcare's proven Standard Operating Procedures, developed over a decade of experience in India, guide the centre's operations. This includes care for children discharged from the NICU and those requiring ongoing support in early childhood. DYU's team-based approach has consistently delivered impactful outcomes for children with a wide range of developmental challenges. In this collaboration, DYU Healthcare is responsible for the day-to-day operations and the implementation of its proven models of care, while Aster Clinics provides strategic leadership and guidance, to ensure the integration of these services within the UAE healthcare landscape. This partnership brings together Aster's established healthcare infrastructure and DYU's specialized expertise in child development. Ms. Alisha Moopen, Managing Director & Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare, expressed her enthusiasm for the centre's opening, saying, 'The Integrated Child Development Centre is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to children and families in the UAE. Our partnership with DYU Healthcare enables us to offer a truly holistic and integrated approach to child development. This is only the beginning, and we are excited to expand these services across the Aster Network in the UAE.' Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics in the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, emphasized the importance of addressing the growing demand for specialized care in the UAE. 'With the increasing number of parents concerned about their children's development or behavior due to disorders like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, this centre will provide proper assessment, counseling and integrated, specialized care for children if required. Our goal is to deliver early, impactful interventions that will make a lasting difference to children's lives.' Dr. Prashanth Gowda, Co-Founder of DYU Healthcare Consultancy and Founder of DYU Healthcare India, shared his excitement about the new partnership, stating, ' We are excited to launch this first-of-its-kind Child Development Centre in Bur Dubai, offering medical, paramedical, and remedial services under one roof to save parents time and resources. Our expert team, trained in top allied health institutions in India, uses the latest international tools for evidence-based, tailored interventions. We look forward to expanding Aster DYU Centres across the UAE to serve more children.' Operating daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, the centre will deliver over 20,000 therapy sessions annually, serving around 350 children and conducting assessments for approximately 500. With a skilled team, advanced equipment, and an interdisciplinary approach, it ensures comprehensive, evidence-based care. Over the next two years, the centre plans to expand to 10 locations across the UAE. It will also launch cultural activities, competitions, and community outreach, including partnerships with local nurseries, primary, and middle schools to extend services within school premises. This collaboration between Aster Clinics and DYU Healthcare marks a major step forward in child development care in the UAE, promising lasting impact for children and their families.
Mid East Info
13 hours ago
- Health
- Mid East Info
Aster Clinics and DYU Healthcare Launch Integrated Child Development Centre in Dubai - Middle East Business News and Information
Aster Clinics, a leading integrated healthcare provider under Aster DM Healthcare GCC, in collaboration with DYU Healthcare, a prominent leader in child development services, has announced the opening of a new Integrated Child Development Centre in Bur Dubai, Dubai. This innovative centre offers a holistic approach to child development, providing a comprehensive range of interdisciplinary therapy services tailored to the unique needs of children of all abilities. An extension of Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (AJMC), the centre offers screening, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention services designed to enhance key developmental areas such as mobility, strength, coordination, cognition, communication, social skills, and emotional growth. By nurturing these abilities, the centre empowers children to navigate the world with greater confidence and independence. The centre follows a unique interdisciplinary model, bringing together medical doctors and rehabilitation professionals to develop individualized care plans tailored to each child's specific needs. Services include screening and diagnosis of developmental delays, neurodevelopmental, communication, and motor disorders, as well as behavioral assessments. Evaluations cover speech and language skills, sensory integration, IQ testing, and special education needs, addressing conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, and speech-language disorders. As part of its comprehensive diagnostic framework, the centre offers Psycho-Educational Analysis to integrate insights across disciplines and create personalized intervention plans. Equipped with internationally recognized assessment tools, it ensures evidence-based care across all stages—from screening to therapy—for children aged 0–16 years. What sets this centre apart is its seamless collaboration between medical and rehabilitation teams, combining hospital and clinic-based care under one roof. DYU Healthcare's proven Standard Operating Procedures, developed over a decade of experience in India, guide the centre's operations. This includes care for children discharged from the NICU and those requiring ongoing support in early childhood. DYU's team-based approach has consistently delivered impactful outcomes for children with a wide range of developmental challenges. In this collaboration, DYU Healthcare is responsible for the day-to-day operations and the implementation of its proven models of care, while Aster Clinics provides strategic leadership and guidance, to ensure the integration of these services within the UAE healthcare landscape. This partnership brings together Aster's established healthcare infrastructure and DYU's specialized expertise in child development. Ms. Alisha Moopen, Managing Director & Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare, expressed her enthusiasm for the centre's opening, saying, 'The Integrated Child Development Centre is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to children and families in the UAE. Our partnership with DYU Healthcare enables us to offer a truly holistic and integrated approach to child development. This is only the beginning, and we are excited to expand these services across the Aster Network in the UAE.' Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics in the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, emphasized the importance of addressing the growing demand for specialized care in the UAE. 'With the increasing number of parents concerned about their children's development or behavior due to disorders like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, this centre will provide proper assessment, counseling and integrated, specialized care for children if required. Our goal is to deliver early, impactful interventions that will make a lasting difference to children's lives.' Dr. Prashanth Gowda, Co-Founder of DYU Healthcare Consultancy and Founder of DYU Healthcare India, shared his excitement about the new partnership, stating, ' We are excited to launch this first-of-its-kind Child Development Centre in Bur Dubai, offering medical, paramedical, and remedial services under one roof to save parents time and resources. Our expert team, trained in top allied health institutions in India, uses the latest international tools for evidence-based, tailored interventions. We look forward to expanding Aster DYU Centres across the UAE to serve more children.' Operating daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, the centre will deliver over 20,000 therapy sessions annually, serving around 350 children and conducting assessments for approximately 500. With a skilled team, advanced equipment, and an interdisciplinary approach, it ensures comprehensive, evidence-based care. Over the next two years, the centre plans to expand to 10 locations across the UAE. It will also launch cultural activities, competitions, and community outreach, including partnerships with local nurseries, primary, and middle schools to extend services within school premises. This collaboration between Aster Clinics and DYU Healthcare marks a major step forward in child development care in the UAE, promising lasting impact for children and their families.
Medscape
4 days ago
- General
- Medscape
Autism Linked to Fourfold Increase in Parkinson's Disease
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to a fourfold increased risk for early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD), results from the largest, population-based cohort study of its kind to date showed. The findings indicated 'that there can be shared biological drivers behind ASD and Parkinson's disease,' study investigator, Weiyao Yin, MD, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, said in a release. 'One hypothesis is that the brain's dopamine system is affected in both cases, since the neurotransmitter dopamine plays an important part in social behavior and motion control,' Yin added. The study was published online on May 27 in JAMA Neurology . A Plausible Link Recent research pointed to a plausible biological link between ASD and PD. However, large, longitudinal studies investigating the risk for PD following an ASD diagnosis are scarce, the researchers noted. 'Our study is the first population-based study, to our knowledge, using prospectively collected data, longitudinal design, and life-course approach to strengthen the inference,' they wrote. To investigate they used national registry data from more than 2 million individuals born in Sweden between 1974 and 1999 and followed them from age 20 years up to the end of 2022. The median age at study exit was 34 years. Within this cohort, they identified 51,954 individuals with ASD and 2,226,611 individuals without the disorder. PD, defined as a first-ever diagnosis of PD or other idiopathic or degenerative parkinsonian disorders, was identified in 438 individuals without ASD (0.02%; 1.3 cases per 100,000 person-years) and in 24 individuals with ASD (0.05%; 3.9 cases per 100,000 person-years), corresponding to a relative risk (RR) of 4.43. Depression and antidepressant use were present in 46.7% of individuals with ASD, and antipsychotic use, which can cause Parkinson-like symptoms, was present in 31.5%. Adjusting for depression and antipsychotic use reduced but did not eliminate the association between ASD and PD risk (RR, 3.10 and RR, 2.00, respectively). Independent of ASD diagnosis, a history of depression and exposure to antipsychotics were linked to a significantly higher risk for PD (RR, 2.01 and RR, 6.34, respectively). Preterm or early-term birth is a known risk factor for ASD, prompting an examination of its potential association with PD. However, no increased risk for PD was found compared with individuals born at full term. After adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, and parental mental illness or PD, the investigators found ASD remained consistently associated with an increased risk for PD. There are potential biological explanations for the link, Yin told Medscape Medical News . 'One hypothesis suggests that the brain's dopamine system is impacted in both conditions, as the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in social behavior and motor control,' Yin said. There may be a genetic correlation between the two conditions, she added noting that the PARK2 gene may be associated between ASD and early-onset PD. 'ASD is a lifelong condition, and more children with autism now progress into middle and older adulthood. Healthcare services need to provide long-term monitoring for individuals with ASD — a vulnerable group with high comorbidity and a high use of psychotropic medications,' Yin said. Experts Weigh In The study is clinically relevant 'mainly because it shows that neurodevelopmental conditions, like ASD, may be associated with clinical signs and diagnoses that may manifest at different ages, and we as clinicians should be aware of that,' Christos Ganos, MD, a neurologist at the Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who was not involved with the study, told Medscape Medical News . 'Although neurodevelopmental disorders are diagnosed early in life, there is a need to assess for neurological symptoms and signs also later in life, including to monitor the effects of prescribed medications on neuromotor control,' added Ganos, who is the wolf chair in neurodevelopmental psychiatry, and associate professor of neurology at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. However, he urged caution in linking the specific diagnoses of ASD and PD, as there is a more general link between neurodevelopmental disorders and motor dysfunction. 'Neurodevelopmental disorders are very heterogeneous, and the 'ASD' diagnosis encompasses a lot of different disorders and etiologies. Some of these diagnoses/conditions are linked to motor syndromes that are specifically associated with motor slowing but are not PD, although they could resemble some of its features,' he explained. Strengths of the study include its large sample size and statistical power to provide estimates 'with more meaningful precision than prior studies,' said Connie Marras, MD, PhD, a movement disorders specialist, and professor of neurology at the University of Toronto. However, she noted that investigators did not include smoking in the models, which 'may result in an overestimation of the association between ASD and PD,' she added. 'Smoking is less common among individuals with ASD and may constitute a confounder. Smoking is also less common in individuals with Parkinson's disease and is considered a protective factor against PD.' She also questioned whether the results really have clinical implications for monitoring the emergence of parkinsonism in this population. 'Early detection does not have treatment implications currently, particularly since at present we don't have therapies for PD prevention or slowing of progression. Once we do have such treatments, then monitoring would be justified,' she said. However, the finding 'could have significant clinical and policy-related implications as these individuals age,' Gregory Wallace, PhD, an autism expert and associate professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences at The George Washington University, Washington, DC, who was not part of the study, told Medscape Medical News. 'Given increased rates of autism diagnoses in younger cohorts, if autistic people are at increased risk for developing parkinsonism as they age, the healthcare system and clinicians who provide care for autistic adults need to be prepared,' said Wallace. Wallace recently published research showing that co-occurring parkinsonism in adults with autism is linked with lower subjective quality of life, more memory problems, lower sleep quality, and greater depression symptoms.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Gadde inaugurates new childcare clinic
Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Rammohan on Saturday inaugurated Abhyasa Child Development Centre and Adolescent Guidance Clinic, in the city. The clinic led by Dr. Asritha Jonnalagadda, who previously worked at Andhra Hospitals, offers comprehensive services to cater to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, behavioural challenges, and speech and motor delays. According to a release, as an early intervention is crucial in shaping a child's future, the clinic lays the foundation for enhanced cognitive, social, and emotional development, ultimately leading to better academic and behavioral outcomes.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Special needs expert ‘heartbroken' after substitute teacher allegedly punches autistic student
A substitute teacher in Seminole County is now out of the job. Jeffrey Jung, 27, was fired after allegedly throwing punches at a student. To make matters worse, that student has autism and is nonverbal. 'My son has autism, so it is disappointing to hear news like this,' a father said outside Sanford High on Friday. Parents in the area said no student should be exposed to aggression, but especially those with special needs. According to the police report, the incident happened inside the classroom. Witnesses say Jung confronted the teen for allegedly causing a nosebleed on another student. 'Schools should be better prepared, better trained,' the father said. According to police, the victim was lying on a mat in the classroom, then Jung allegedly leaned down and punched him in the ribs and arm. The incident report, issued by a school resource officer, confirms the teen has autism and is nonverbal. 'Autism is a spectrum and anyone on it is an individual. However, about 40% of those individuals are considered intellectually disabled and about another 25% are borderline intellectually disabled,' said Margaret Thornton, when she learned about the incident. She is the chief operations officer at Opportunity Community Ability Inc., an organization that provides training for individuals with special needs in the community. 'I immediately feel heartbroken for that student and their family because their life has been forever changed,' she said. Seminole County Schools said every substitute teacher, including Jung, is certified with Exceptional Student Education, or ESE. 'ESE is an umbrella. It manages a variety of different learning styles, cognitive levels. It's not quite as specific as a deaf and hard of hearing credential or a visually impaired credential, but it is for students that will be teaching individuals with special needs,' Thornton explained. Although ESE training is necessary, it might not be enough when it comes to autism, according to the expert. 'A public educator who's working with children on the spectrum probably already has an ESC certificate. I would urge them honestly to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder endorsement, which is an additional level of education,' Thornton said. 'But what they also may need to invest in in the school system is working on teaching emotional intelligence and recognizing as an educator how we are feeling as we're working through the struggles of teaching individuals that need more support and maybe create more challenges.' Jung worked as a substitute teacher in Seminole County since August 2024. He was charged with battery and has posted $1,000 bail. The Seminole County school district sent the following statement regarding the case: 'Any allegations of misconduct by our staff will be taken seriously and handled quickly. We will continue to fully cooperate and assist law enforcement as they continue their investigation. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and any type of behavior that jeopardizes that safety will not be tolerated in Seminole County Public Schools.' The Sanford Police Department is the leading agency investigating the case. As of Friday, the department said there were no updates on the investigation. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
