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Early Childhood Intervention Services in India

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Birth Defects in India

Abstract

Early childhood development is determined by intrinsic and environmental factors. Development is variable and rapid in early childhood and influenced by many factors. Delay in achievement of milestones beyond a certain age indicates underlying health complications. Early intervention is a set of coordinated services and support systems that are available to infants and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families that aim at maximizing the developmental and health outcomes of children. Early intervention may be in the form of physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavioural education and play therapy. Early intervention is more beneficial and cost-effective if provided early than at a later stage in life. In India, policies for early intervention are disconnected, with services being offered through the District Early Intervention Centres of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, and programmes of the National Trust. This article describes early intervention services in India. Considering the magnitude of childhood disability in the country, the article identifies that there is a need to focus on developing integrated services for children needing these services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

    Humaira Ansari

  2. Birth Defects and Childhood Disability Research Centre, Pune, 411020, India

    Supriya K. Nikam

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  1. Humaira Ansari
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  2. Supriya K. Nikam
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  1. Birth Defects and Childhood Disability Research Centre, Pune, India

    Anita Kar

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Ansari, H., Nikam, S.K. (2021). Early Childhood Intervention Services in India. In: Kar, A. (eds) Birth Defects in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1554-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1554-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-1554-2

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