Many researches have shown that the golden period for babies’ brain development occurs from birth through age 6. If given proper stimulation and cultivation, their brain undergoes rapid growth in cognition, motor skills, language, social emotions and self-care ability, which is extremely crucial to later health and development.

Nowadays, people are having fewer children. Novice parents may not be familiar with young children’s developmental milestones as they lack parenting experience. Besides, almost 70 percent of parents have to work and leave their children to grandparents or domestic helpers. Therefore, it is not easy for them to spot children’s developmental challenges. Some grassroots families may also neglect their children’s developmental problems due to a lack of relevant knowledge. As a result, many children’s problems leave unsolved until being discovered by experienced child care workers in preschools or nursery schools at the age of 2 or 3.

Yet even when they are discovered, it takes at least 9 months to a year for the children to queue for the public assessment service before they are diagnosed and can receive multidisciplinary rehabilitation services. Such a long waiting time hinders early intervention and the greatest chance for improving the children’s ability during the golden period eventually slips away.

In view of this, HKSPC pursues the goal of “Early Identification, Assessment and Intervention.” Our educational psychologists join hands with schools and parents, and work hard to identify children who might have developmental challenges. We provide professional assessment as soon as possible so that the children in need can receive a comprehensive support at once. Now, let us read the story of Yu Yan and learn more about how HKSPC’s Early Assessment Service and On-Site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services help our service users.

Link to: Early identification and support to provide treatment to children with developmental challenges

Tao Chan, Service Director