我的儿子，启丰，今年6岁，在3岁那年被心理咨询师诊断为过动及专注力不足症（ADHD）。可是现在，他可以向普通的小孩一样开心地上幼儿园学习与玩耍。还记得他出世时因短暂脑缺氧而被送入儿童加护病房观察及治疗。虽然过后医生都确定孩子一切正常，但是我们还是很担心他的身心发展。从出世到6个月，我们发现孩子异常的“好动”，例如，他躺在床上时，也会没有目的的手舞足蹈。10个月后，我们也发现孩子和身边的人没有眼神接触，对周遭的人、事物不太有反应。还好在1岁时，他对我们播放的教育影片有兴趣，也会跟着念和唱字母歌。只是他还不会讲话，及很难理解和明白指示。而且，他真的是很好动，没有学走路，就开始跑；常常跌倒也不怕痛。除了带孩子到医院儿科复诊，我们也一直寻求方法帮助孩子。在而连突（Jerantut）这个小地方，要寻求专业的帮助是很困难的。我只好透过网络资料，知道有儿童发展障碍的评估服务而且要在孩子3岁时做评估会比较准确。于是，我决定了在他3岁时就带他去做评估。在这期间，我真的是忐忑不安，也不敢掉以轻心。自己心里有数，孩子可能是过动儿。到了他3岁，我们就带他去见临床心理咨询师做评估。评估结果显示，我孩子的确是有过动的症状且智力发展也不及于同龄的小孩。值得安慰的是，孩子虽然语言及社交能力不足，但是却没符合自闭症的诊断标准。咨询师也安慰我们说孩子3岁，正值疗育的黄金时期，及早发现及给予治疗，孩子的情况肯定会有所改善。咨询师也转介孩子接受语言治疗。但由于地理位置的关系，在而连突小地方根本没有语言治疗。因种种因素，我们还是拖了一阵子都没有开始治疗。
有一次在听电台节目时，我发现电台的网页内有分享一些专业医师或治疗服务的联络号码。我就是这样开始认识李莉莉儿童心理咨询师，并接触了A Zon生命教育学苑及其疗育课程。在与负责人详谈及把之前做的评估报告交由李老师详读后，我觉得自己找对了地方让孩子接受疗育。A Zon的课程综合了不同的游戏及体能活动，同时也居有专业的老师负责教导及监督。孩子肯定能在游戏及快乐的情况下学习。所以我们决定每个星期带他下雪隆，接受疗育。刚开始上课时，孩子很爱闹，不要去上课，再加上我们不能请太多假期带孩子下来上课。因此，我们就暂停上课了2个月。
两个月后再回A Zon上课，启丰不但没有抗拒，而且还不需要我陪伴，自己可以和老师单独上课。而且我也为孩子找到了一间很好的幼儿园，园长和老师们都很有爱心和耐心的教导他。就在A Zon、幼儿园及我们父母的配合下，启丰渐渐地进步。参与疗育课程后最大的进步是他的自制能力变好了，比较可以控制自己的行为。而且过动的现象也有改善，能够静静坐下来做功课。再来，他的认知能力也有进步，例如：他明白并且能遵从指示，他知道行为的后果（会怕被处罚，所以不敢顽皮）等。他的语言沟通能力也大有进步（例：能与别人对答），家人和身边的朋友也为他的进步感到惊讶和开心。身边的人也不觉得他是有过动症的小孩，只是会比较顽皮一些。我们真的很感恩 A Zon和幼儿园对启丰的爱心与教导。最后，也不忘感谢我的父母、兄弟姐妹、家人对启丰的关爱和对我们的支持。
想对其他家长说的话…
尽可能细心观察孩子，提早察觉孩子的困难，就可以提早寻求专业的帮助。当然这个过程是很忐忑的，因为要接受孩子的问题对父母来说，是很大的挑战。身边的人会出自于好意而安慰父母说孩子长大后情况就会变好。但是，父母千万不可掉以轻心，不能怠慢，要珍惜孩子接受早期疗育的黄金时期。再来，我也要鼓励父母们不要怕时间长（浪费时间），就中途放弃。疗育过程是需要父母的参与与耐心，所以我们一定要坚持。只要找对了疗育方法和专业的帮助，加上我们的坚持，孩子一定会进步。其实父母的心理状况也会影响孩子的进展表现。如果自己都不能接受孩子，他们不但会没有进步，也会让他们错过接受疗育的机会。
My son, Enrique, is 6 years old now. He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by a clinical psychologist. But now, he is enjoying his kindergarten years like other normal children. He was admitted to ICU right after birth due to neonatal cerebral hypoxia. Although the doctor assured us that his anatomy and physiology is normal, we found that he was exceptionally “active” as a baby (i.e. waving his limbs actively for no reason). Past 10 months old, he still had no eye contact with people and he appeared withdrawn. Fortunately, he showed interest in educational video clips and was able to sing along (ABC song) at age 1. But he had difficulty in understanding instructions and appeared very active, i.e. didn’t walk but ran instead, fell down frequently, etc.
We eagerly looked for professional help. But it was difficult for us to access help in Jerantut and I had to search the internet for more information. I’d come across information on psychological intervention for children and that it was good to assess a child at about the age of 3. While browsing for information, I suspected that my child might have ADHD symptoms. It was very disturbing for me as a parent. At the age of 3, I brought Enrique for psychological and developmental assessment. The results showed that my child indeed has ADHD symptoms and his cognitive development is not on par with children of his age. Although he has deficit in speech and social ability, he didn’t meet the diagnostic criteria of autism. The psychologist assured us of a good prognosis for Enrique as he was 3 years old, a good time for early intervention. She suggested that Enrique go for speech therapy but we didn’t start therapy immediately as it’s hard to find such therapy in Jerantut.
I found out about A ZonEducare Advisory and the child psychologist, Ms. Lee Li Li, in a radio station’s website in which they shared about health care information. I contacted A Zon without hesitation and got to know more about their intervention program. After reading Enrique’s assessment report, we started to enroll him in the intervention program. I felt that I’d found the right place as Enrique enjoyed very much, the intervention integrated play and physical activities. In addition, they have professional psychologist and teachers to manage the case. Hence, I decided to travel to and fro between Jerantut and Selangor for his intervention program. During the first 2 months of intervention, Enrique couldn’t really perform and he was very clingy to me. And we couldn’t take leave too frequently to send him for intervention. Thus, we stopped the program for about 2 months.
We continued the program in A Zon two months later. Surprisingly, Enrique didn’t refuse to go for class and he didn’t need my companion in class anymore. In addition, I’ve found him a good kindergarten where its principal and teachers are patient enough to handle him. With cooperation and effort from A Zon, his kindergarten and parents, Enrique showed improvement gradually. One of the tremendous improvements is his self-control; he is now less active and able to sit still to complete his homework. In addition, his cognitive ability has improved as he understands and is able to follow instructions. He knows about consequences of his behavior (i.e. to avoid punishment, he would refrain himself from doing inappropriate behavior). His speech and communication has also improved (i.e. no more “parrot talk” and able to maintain conversations with others). Family and friends are surprised and happy for Enrique over his improvement. Those who do not really know him have never thought that he is a child with ADHD. I’m really thankful for the help from A Zon and his kindergarten. Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents, siblings and family members for their care and support along the journey.
Words for other parents...
Parents have to be alert in observing their child’s progress and difficulty. If problems are identified earlier, the sooner parents can seek for professional help and guidance. The process of seeking professional help could be upsetting as it’s challenging for parents to accept their child’s difficulties. People around us may try to calm us down by saying that the child will get better as he/she grows up. However, as parents, we should not ignore the problem, and we should appreciate the opportunity for early intervention. I would like to encourage parents to not give up during the intervention process. Parents’ participation and patience are very important during the intervention process. As long as we search for our child, a suitable and professional intervention, and we are complying with such intervention, we will definitely see improvement in the child. Parents’ psychological state also determines a child’s progress. If we are unable to accept our children, they would have no chance for intervention, hence, no improvement.
受访者 Interviewee： 启丰（Enrique）妈妈 ~ 于 25.4.2013
We eagerly looked for professional help. But it was difficult for us to access help in Jerantut and I had to search the internet for more information. I’d come across information on psychological intervention for children and that it was good to assess a child at about the age of 3. While browsing for information, I suspected that my child might have ADHD symptoms. It was very disturbing for me as a parent. At the age of 3, I brought Enrique for psychological and developmental assessment. The results showed that my child indeed has ADHD symptoms and his cognitive development is not on par with children of his age. Although he has deficit in speech and social ability, he didn’t meet the diagnostic criteria of autism. The psychologist assured us of a good prognosis for Enrique as he was 3 years old, a good time for early intervention. She suggested that Enrique go for speech therapy but we didn’t start therapy immediately as it’s hard to find such therapy in Jerantut.
I found out about A ZonEducare Advisory and the child psychologist, Ms. Lee Li Li, in a radio station’s website in which they shared about health care information. I contacted A Zon without hesitation and got to know more about their intervention program. After reading Enrique’s assessment report, we started to enroll him in the intervention program. I felt that I’d found the right place as Enrique enjoyed very much, the intervention integrated play and physical activities. In addition, they have professional psychologist and teachers to manage the case. Hence, I decided to travel to and fro between Jerantut and Selangor for his intervention program. During the first 2 months of intervention, Enrique couldn’t really perform and he was very clingy to me. And we couldn’t take leave too frequently to send him for intervention. Thus, we stopped the program for about 2 months.
We continued the program in A Zon two months later. Surprisingly, Enrique didn’t refuse to go for class and he didn’t need my companion in class anymore. In addition, I’ve found him a good kindergarten where its principal and teachers are patient enough to handle him. With cooperation and effort from A Zon, his kindergarten and parents, Enrique showed improvement gradually. One of the tremendous improvements is his self-control; he is now less active and able to sit still to complete his homework. In addition, his cognitive ability has improved as he understands and is able to follow instructions. He knows about consequences of his behavior (i.e. to avoid punishment, he would refrain himself from doing inappropriate behavior). His speech and communication has also improved (i.e. no more “parrot talk” and able to maintain conversations with others). Family and friends are surprised and happy for Enrique over his improvement. Those who do not really know him have never thought that he is a child with ADHD. I’m really thankful for the help from A Zon and his kindergarten. Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents, siblings and family members for their care and support along the journey.
Words for other parents...
Parents have to be alert in observing their child’s progress and difficulty. If problems are identified earlier, the sooner parents can seek for professional help and guidance. The process of seeking professional help could be upsetting as it’s challenging for parents to accept their child’s difficulties. People around us may try to calm us down by saying that the child will get better as he/she grows up. However, as parents, we should not ignore the problem, and we should appreciate the opportunity for early intervention. I would like to encourage parents to not give up during the intervention process. Parents’ participation and patience are very important during the intervention process. As long as we search for our child, a suitable and professional intervention, and we are complying with such intervention, we will definitely see improvement in the child. Parents’ psychological state also determines a child’s progress. If we are unable to accept our children, they would have no chance for intervention, hence, no improvement.
受访者 Interviewee： 启丰（Enrique）妈妈 ~ 于 25.4.2013
