In response to an article published on March 28 by MLive.com, Dr. Michael Gabriel of Gabriel Pediatrics, a Staten Island pediatric care center, says that access to early screening could curb the rising number of autism cases in the U.S.
BROOKYLN, NY / myprgenie.com / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2014 / Dr. Michael Gabriel of Gabriel Pediatrics, a Staten Island pediatric care center, responds to an article published on March 28 by MLive.com, which discusses the new "Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!" initiative.
According to a March 28 article published by MLive.com, titled "'Watch Me Thrive' initiative to focus on improving early childhood health, development," federal health and education officials have begun a new effort designed to improve developmental screening and treatment for children from birth to the age of 5 in an attempt to "intervene before special education services are needed for school-age children."
The initiative, called "Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!" organized by the federal Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, will gather resources for health care providers, educators, the public and child care providers in an attempt to "encourage earlier screening and intervention for developmental issues."
A recent U.S. Department of Education press release announcing the initiative provided Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics that focused on the rising number of cases of autism spectrum disorders, with most of them not being diagnosed before the age of four.
Dr. Michael Gabriel of Gabriel Pediatrics, a Staten Island pediatric care center, says that early screening is key. "The earlier our children are screened the better chance of them getting access to the services and support systems needed to prevent serious autistic symptoms from developing," he says. "At our office, we scan all children at 18 months with a MCHAT to ensure they are healthy. The MCHAT is a developmental screening checklist that identifies at risk children and early detection results in better outcomes. This is even more important for first time parents as they may not know what the typical development of a child is. This initiative will prove to result in many more positive outcomes in both school and in every day life."
Gabriel Pediatrics provides comprehensive pediatric care to children throughout the New York area with practices both in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Our board certified pediatricians and experienced staff help provide a very warm and nurturing environment for both you and your children. Our approach combines the latest treatment methods with the personal attention you should expect from your doctor. Simply put, we understand the importance of communication and trust and we are earning that trust one family at a time.
Contact: Scott Darrohn, [email protected], 855-347-4228
SOURCE: Gabriel Pediatrics