New Horizons Group

NEWSLETTER (QPM/ MNL-01, Vol. III Issue 1) | February, 2017

Developmental PediatricianDr. Samir Dalwai (MD, DNB, DCH,FCPS, DNB and LLB) founded NewHorizons Child DevelopmentCentre (NHCDC now NHD) in2003. NHD has developed 5centres and currently houses ateam of more than 60paramedical professionals. NHDprovides multi-disciplinaryservices to more than 300children daily with a ratio of onespecialist to one child in eachintervention session.

New Horizons Health & ResearchFoundation (NHHRF now NHF), isa registered non-profitorganization[Reg.No.U85100MH2012NPL23856; No.DIT(E)/80G/111/N/2014-15],which works in the areas ofhealth, impairment and earlychildhood development. NHFfollows a four-pronged approach:Research, Rehabilitation,Advocacy and Training.

Established in 2014, NewHorizons Institute ofEducation & Research (NHIERnow NHI) is the educationalwing of NHG. In May, 2015,TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIALSCIENCES (TISS), Mumbai andNHF entered a collaborationand offer diploma courses inSpecial Education andRehabilitation Psychology.

New Horizons Educationand Training Solutions(NHETS now NHS) provideshighly specialized solutionsto schools in Mumbai. Ourspecialists are deputed atthe school on a customizedbasis for conductingevaluation, intervention andcounseling for children withacademic, emotional andbehavioural concerns.

Dr. Waheeda Pagarkarstarted the New HorizonsAudiology (NHA) and HearingAid Centre for Adults andChildren in August 2014. In itsfirst year, NHA has seenaround 400 patients, out ofwhich 20 were adults and theremaining 380 were children.35 patients were diagnosedwith hearing loss of varyingtype and degree while 10 wereprescribed with hearing aids.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. SAMIR DALWAI, FOUNDER DIRECTOR – NEW HORIZONS GROUP, ON BEING RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE INDIAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS (IAP), MUMBAI!

FOUNDATION DAY 2017: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM! – BY MAYURI GHODKE, INEZ D’SOUZA, AKSHATA GHANEKAR AND HETA RAJA

New Horizons was founded on 10th February, 2003. Every year, this day is set aside to celebrate Dr. Samir Dalwai’s vision and it gives us a chance to reflect on our beginnings and the years gone by. We reiterate our Core Values and promise together as an organization to continue this journey forward by providing the best outcome for every child as we believe that, ‘Every Child Can Do Better’. Here are a few priceless moments from our special day!

Family New Horizons – Foundation Day 2017

Congratulations and Celebrations: Cake-cutting! (L-R) Mr. Jimmy B. Garda - General Manager, Ms. Sandhya Kulkarni - Associate Director and Dr. Samir Dalwai - Founder Director,

with team members.

Mr. Anant Talaulicar, Vice President & Managing

Director - Cummins India ABO, Chairman & Managing

Director - Cummins India Limited and a trustee of

New Horizons Group, shared his thoughts with

Team New Horizons through a video, stressing on our core values and the

importance of being in touch with our inner selves.

Thank you, Mr. Bosco Martis, for teaching us

some cool moves!

Teacher and mentor Dr. Y.K. Amdekar felicitates the first lady of New Horizons,

Ms. Sandhya Kulkarni!

(L-R) Dr. Rashid Merchant, Dr. Y.K. Amdekar and Dr. Samir Dalwai

Ms. Alka Dhupkar, journalist, shared her thoughts on the work done at New Horizons.

Shri Subhash Desai, Cabinet Minister, Government of Maharashtra, graced the occasion with his presence.

Team New Horizons with Dr. Y.K. Amdekar

Ms. Kruti Chheda receiving the award for Star Performer – Clinical,

from Dr. Samir Dalwai

Ms. Spruha Prabhumatkari receiving the award for Star Performer – Non-clinical,

from Ms. Sandhya Kulkarni

Ms. Shubhangi Pawar receiving the award for Support Champion from

Ms. Sohini ChatterjeeMs. Nita Mehta receiving the award for Discipline – Punctuality and Attendance, from Mr. Jimmy Garda

Ms. Anam Shaikh receiving her Long Term Service Award from Dr. Samir Dalwai

Ms. Bhavya Gour Chandrakar receiving her Long Term Service Award from Dr. Samir Dalwai

Ms. Zeenal Shah receiving Long Term Service Award on behalf of Ms. Foram Vora from Dr. Samir Dalwai

Ms. Nita Mehta receiving her Long Term Service Award from Dr. Samir Dalwai Team HR receiving the Award for Star Team – Non-clinical, from Dr. Y.K. Amdekar Team Dadar with the award for Star Team – Clinical

Team Bhandup receiving the Best Centre Head Award on behalf of Centre Head

Ms. Dipti Khopkar, from Ms. Sandhya Kulkarni Team Santa Cruz with the Award for the Centre with the Best Up-keep

Team Goregaon (East)Team Goregaon (West) receiving the Best Centre Award from Dr. Y.K. Amdekar We are all New Horizons!

TO REACH OUR ONLINE APPLICATION FORM, CLICK HERE:

NHD - Dadar (East)

1st Floor, Jeevak Nursing Home, Sai Kunj, MMSG Marg, Dadar (East), Mumbai - 400 014.

Tel: 022 65287397 / 022 24144596 / 7506171230

NHD - Bhandup (West)

Pawar Public School, Opp. DreamsMall, Off LBS Marg, Bhandup (West),Mumbai - 400 078.

Tel: 022 21663024 / 9769669332

NHD and NHAGoregaon (West)

2nd Floor,Techniplex II, Techniplex Complex,Veer Savarkar Flyover, Goregaon (West),Mumbai - 400 062.

Tel: 022 60600650 / 7506171240

NHD - Goregaon (East)

Ground Floor, Saira Mansion,Pahadi School Road 2, Goregaon (East),Mumbai - 400 063.

Tel: 022 65711586

NHD - Santa Cruz (West)

Shop No. 47, 1st Floor, Hi-Life Mall, Opp. Santa Cruz Station, Santa Cruz (West), Mumbai - 400 054.

Tel: 022 26465649 / 9819224415

www.enablemychild.orginfo@enablemychild.orgwww.facebook.com/newhorizonscdc

New Horizons Group - www.enablemychild.org

http://admissions.tiss.edu/view/10/admissions/stp-admissions/post-graduate-diploma-in-special-education/

THE CASE OF THE MISSING DOCTOR

In a massive under-cover operation, led by partners-in-crime Renji Verghese and Nita Mehta, Team New Horizons turned into word-class detectives when Founder Director - New Horizons Group, Dr. Samir Dalwai, went missing on Foundation Day, 2017. The results were hilarious and unforgettable! This Khoofiya Kutlet mystery was written by Renji Verghese, with video footage shot by Nita Mehta and seamless editing by Guest Editor, Akash. The Dream Cast consisted of: Dr. Samir Dalwai as himself, Sandhya Kulkarni as herself, Jimmy B. Garda as ACP Pradyuman, Inez D’souza as Daya, Gitanjali Pillai as Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Sohini Chatterjee as Watson, Mayuri Ghodke as Karamchand, Dikshita Choudhury as Kitty, Paullomi Shah as Byomkesh Bakshi, Foram Vora as Bobby Jasoos and Mansi Walimbe as KK. Bollywood better watch out!!

HANDLE WITH CARE: HIGH RISK INFANTS AND THEIR FOLLOW-UP BY DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICIANS – BY DR. MEGHA JAKHOTIA (DNB PEDIATRICS), DR. PREETI KRISHNASWAMY (DCH) AND DR. TANVEE PRIYA (DCH)

I CAN TALK NOW! - BY GAUSIYA ANSARI

SNAPSHOTS!

The Dream Cast With Mastermind Renji Verghese And Videographer Nita MehtaAll’s well that ends well and Dr. Samir Dalwai is found right where

he belongs – with his team!

A YEAR OF JOURNAL CLUBS – COMPILED BY TEAM NEW HORIZONS HEALTH AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NHF)

Under the guidance of eminent pediatricians likeDr. Rashid merchant and Dr. Samir Dalwai, the team at New Horizons Health and Research Foundation (NHF) has been organizing weekly Journal Clubs for over a year. The first Journal Club (JC) was conducted on February 17, 2016 and Dr. Elyska deSa and Ms. Diksha Gajria had presented a research paper titled - "Maternal Gesture Use and Language Development in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder". Since then, team NHF has organized 38 Journal Clubs (and counting!). Journal Clubs include discussions on research studies, analysis of NH clinical data and clinical case presentations. JCs have positively impacted our team as a whole by 1) changing our perspectives towards data, 2) ways to conduct research, 3) putting greater emphasis on history (right from the antenatal period) and the basic clinical process of arriving at a diagnosis and its differentials and 4) instilling confidence in NH team members to present their cases/papers internally as well as in academic conferences such as NCDP-EMBICON 2016. Therapists at NHD have also co-drafted their cases with the NHF team, and prepared them as detailed articles to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals or compiled in a book. We have thirteen such detailed case studies!

One year of completing JCs has motivated us to analyze our data, write more, write better and continue valuing published work, in order to create a niche for New Horizons in the world of research! Here is a look at what some of our presenters had to say!

Nita Mehta presented on ‘effect of multidisciplinary intervention on receptive and expressive language ability of children with developmental concerns’.

“New Horizons Health and Research Foundation has been conducting Journal and Case Presentaions for the past one year under the vision of Dr. Samir Dalwai and with Dr. Rashid Merchant as a mentor and guide. In the past one year, the initial meetings discussed research papers. Gradually the topics

expanded to discussion and presentation of children at New Horizons, their conditions and progress seen by following New Horizons Developmental Program. Over the past one year, the case presentations and clinical topics have been a great source of learning in the areas like association of behavioural, clinical and academic presentations to multiple conditions, derivation and analysis of differential diagnosis, underlying genetic composition which present as concerns in children, importance of making an intervention plan that will benefit the child and their family, to name a few. Thank you, Dr. Samir Dalwai, Dr. Rashid Merchant, Ms. Deepti Kanade-Modak, Dr. Ameya Bondre and the entire Team from New Horizons Health and Research Foundation (NHF) for creating a platform for engaging in cross-disciplinary discussions. May this learning be captured in a way that more people can access the learning from these sessions.”

Gitanjali Pillai presented on ‘intervention to develop social skills in a child with Autism and lower degree of developmental impairment; and on IQ profiles of children 6-15 years of age referred for developmental concerns’.

“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears and never regrets…,” the words of the great Leonardo Da Vinci highlights something that comes naturally to us all, and that is, the ability to learn. It’s how we acquire skills and overcome obstacles. But there’s

no use of just acquiring skills, if one can’t apply or share it with others, because that is the essence of True Knowledge and Wisdom. And that is what

Journal Club is all about; where every single person from NH gets to share their clinical knowledge, discuss various viewpoints, receive valuable feedback and present cases of varying magnitudes, all in the presence of stalwarts like Dr. Samir himself, and Dr. Merchant! Having presented twice myself, I knew I was better equipped to handle something as big as EMBICON 2016, only due to the valuable feedback I received and the continuous practice provided by all. To be in the presence of great minds, critically think, discuss and present cases, is a chance not all get, and to have it right here at New Horizons is a privilege! Happy first anniversary Journal Club! And wish you many more…!“

Madhumitha Chandrasekaran presented on ‘intervention for a child with borderline intellectual functioning, AD/HD and anxiety’.

“Firstly, the Journal Club gave me confidence for doing such presentations, since I was presenting in front of Dr. Merchant and Dr. Samir. The inputs I received from them gave me a new perspective towards the case and in terms of written presentation of the case - how it

needs to be precise and what aspects of the case should be given importance. The overall experience helped me with the NCDP conference poster presentation. The JC gives a good platform for those interested in areas of research and in going beyond just the practical aspects of work.”

Kern Rebello presented on ‘parent-mediated intervention v/s no intervention for infants at high risk for Autism: a parallel, single-blind, randomised trial and a case report on multidisciplinary intervention for a child with hearing loss and vestibular concerns’.

“Presenting at the Journal Club meeting in front of experts in the field enabled me to understand the exceptional quality of work done at New Horizons. It has greatly improved my critical thinking ability and has made me more confident as a therapist. I would recommend more professionals to enjoy this

educational and professional journey into becoming the best that they could be.” Diksha Gajria presented on ‘maternal gesture use and language development in infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder’.

“Presenting in weekly Journal Club helped me overcome my fears of public speaking. Professionally, it enhanced my knowledge on different disorders and rare genetic syndromes that are unheard of. Presence of esteemed pediatricians Dr. Rashid

Merchant and Dr. Samir Dalwai provides us with a stimulating learning environment.”

Anam Shaikh presented on ‘should visual reinforcement audiometry be used to identify hearing impairment in children?’

"Through the Journal Club, I got to present on a topic outside my core area of specialization. I got a priceless opportunity to improve my oral communication skills.”

Dr. Preeti Krishnaswamy, Dr. Megha Jakhotia and Dr. Tanvee Priya, doing their Fellowship in Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics from New Horizons; presented multiple cases, largely on genetic syndromes, neuro-motor disorders and developmental disorders.

“As rightly said by Albert Einstein, “The most important thing is to not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.” One cannot help but be in awe as Dr. Rashid Merchant shares his

experiences, knowledge and clinical vignettes on various aspects of not only medicine but also learning in general. It’s an absolute pleasure to be a part of the meeting and to present as well as learn and know the way to approach cases with developmental concerns. We’re grateful to New Horizons, Dr. Samir Dalwai and most importantly the children, to let us have the opportunity to learn from them.”

The recent advances in perinatal and neonatal intensive care has led to the increased survival of premature infants. This is unfortunately not accompanied by improvement in neurodevelopmental outcome. This has created a clearly identifiable group of infants who are at a high risk of having higher than expected rates of health and developmental problems. This warrants a need for a specialised and structured follow up program for such infants. These are:

1) Babies who were low birth weight or premature2) Babies born of a difficult labour3) Infants suffering from neonatal illnesses and

respiratory distress4) Failure to thrive infants5) Infants/toddlers up to 36 months who are

lagging in their developmental milestones6) Children with genetic disorders

The infants from the above mentioned group should have regular follow-ups with the Developmental Pediatrician for concerns regarding their development, behaviour and social communicatios, as Developmental Pediatricians are specifically trained to provide specialised health

care with respect to development and psycho-social well being. These evaluations are needed to check whether the child is growing normally or not and whether there is a need to intervene.

Following are the specific areas that require evaluation in these high risk infants:1) Developmental milestones2) Neuromotor function3) Growth and nutrition4) Language development5) Social interaction6) Neurological assessment7) Ophthalmic evaluation8) Hearing evaluation and9) Immunisation

These evaluations give us an idea as to where the child currently stands on the path of the normal development. If the development is not appropriate as per age, then comes the role of early intervention which is of prime importance.

These interventions should be aimed at long term outcomes for the child. As a matter of fact it is not sufficient to merely identify the long term outcomes in these children. The complexity and slow evolving

pattern of issues and dysfunctions in these children make it extremely important to look beyond individual test scores and provide multidisciplinary assessments and coordinated interventions to those who are in need.

The intervention provided should essentially be an integrated, multidisciplinary, goal-oriented, time-bound and child-specific program like the New Horizons Developmental Program (NHDP) to help and prevent adverse outcomes or reduce the prevalence and severity of certain outcomes and help the child reach his/ her full potential to become a productive member of the society.

Dr. Rashid Merchant at a Journal Club Session

Dr. Rashid Merchant and Dr. Samir Dalwai at Journal Club Sessions

Dr. Samir Dalwai was invited to speak at the National Conference for Principals and School Leaders: Expanding Circles of Influence - Creating New Age Leaders (10th-12th February, 2017), organised by Navrachana School, Vadodara. Over 150 school principals, educators and leaders from different parts of the country participated in the two-day brain-storming sessions.

On the occasion of Republic Day this year New Horizons Audiology Centre for Adults and Children (NHA) came up with a special offer for senior citizens wherein free Hearing Screening and Hearing Aids were provided to all in need. Appointments were available upto 25th February 2017. The response was overwhelming and all the slots were booked by 1st Febraruary. 47 males and females in

the age-range of 60 to 86 years, all having varying degrees of hearing loss, availed the services. We look forward to offering similar services next year!

Ms. Bhavya Gour Chandrakar presented an oral paper on the 'Impact of Occupational Therapy on Functioning in Children with Attention Deficit/

Hyperactivity Disorder' at OTICON 2017, the 54th National Conference of Occupational Therapists, at Jaipur on 18th February, 2017. The paper is due for publication in the Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy. She

also presented an E-poster on the 'Effect of Interdisciplinary Intervention Program in West Syndrome’.

New Horizons Education and Training Solutions (NHS) conducted a series of workshops on ‘Parenting Styles’ in one of our partner schools. The workshop was conducted separately for each grade level.

Some of the highlights of the workshop were: Knowledge on Child Development, Red Flags to be Noted and New Horizons’ 6 Golden Rules for parents to follow for the all round development of their children.

Training Session at Bhandup Centre by Ms. Sandhya Kulkarni Training Session at Goregaon (West) Centre by Dr. Ameya BondreTaking an Oath to Live and Work by our Values – Santa

Cruz Centre with Ms. Akshata Ghanekar

Ms. Dikshita Choudhury receiving her Rising Star Award from Ms. Sohini Chatterjee

Ms. Yasha Shetty receiving her Rising Star Award from Ms. Deepti Kanade-Modak

For exciting career opportunities with New Horizons Group, click here: http://www.enablemychild.org/new-horizons-group/nhg-careers/

Little Rohan* (2 years 2 months old) is attending New Horizons Developmental Program (NHDP) for one year now at the Santa Cruz centre. He was a pre-mature baby and has a history of delayed motor and speech milestones. He attends Developmental Pediatric Follow-up every three months, his parents attend a mandatory monthly Parent Engagement session and he attends Developmental and Communication Intervention.

When he started NHDP he used to cry, drag or point to indicate his needs. One day, he started imitating mono-syllabic words which we had been working on. In the next session, his grandmother reported that he had said ‘Mummy’ and ‘Dada’ meaningfully! This was a momentous event not only for the family, but for us as well!! His Communication Intervention Program then started focussing on imitation and naming of bi-syllabic and multi-syllabic words while his Developmental Intervention Program focussed on gross-motor skills, sitting-tolerance and cognitive skills such as attending to a given task and developing joint-attention. He was taking a syrup prescribed by

Dr. Dalwai. His parents were attending Parent Engagement sessions. He responded well to this multi-disciplinary approach and in a span of two-months started saying 2-word phrases such as, ‘Mummy finish’, ‘come Mummy’, ‘brushing teeth’ and ‘balloon dhoom’.

Now Rohan enjoys expressing him self verbally and even initiates converstaions. We record a list of words which he can repeat and a list of words that he can say independently and this is shared with his family. The constant stimulation he receives during intervention sessions as well as the regular follow-up he receives at home ensures good progress.

Now he attempts to say words such as ‘dinosaur’ and ‘umbrella’. A sizeable vocabulary indeed!! Rohan has taken his first steps during his New Horizons Developmental Program (NHDP) as well as his first steps in the world of words, and may he go very, very far! He will always be a New Horizons graduate and we will always be proud of him!!*Name changed to protect identity.