Varanasi: A two-day national workshop on the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) concluded on Saturday at Pediatrics department of Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU ), with experts stressing the importance of early identification, assessment and intervention for children with autism.Organised to strengthen practical skills in administering, scoring and interpreting the ISAA, the workshop also aimed to raise awareness about autism assessment and the importance of timely intervention.BHU VC Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi said lack of awareness could affect the dignity, attention and care provided to children and families dealing with disabilities, learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. Referring to autism as a spectrum with varying levels of severity, he stressed the importance of early intervention and said support during the early years could lead to encouraging outcomes.He said integrating psychology, neurology, psychiatry and paediatrics could create better possibilities for effective intervention while providing hope to families.Prof Ankur Singh, head of the Department of Pediatrics, IMS, said autism was an important concern in paediatric practice and that more trained manpower and facilities were needed to meet the growing requirements of children with autism. He said the workshop would help train professionals and create awareness among caregivers and the wider public.Dr Kumari Divya Singh, organising secretary, stressed the importance of early identification, appropriate assessment and evidence-based intervention.IMS-BHU director Prof S N Sankhwar said timely detection and intervention could make a significant difference in addressing autism-related challenges. Prof Sanjay Gupta, dean, Faculty of Medicine, emphasised the need for a multidisciplinary approach to autism care, while Prof Puneet, medical superintendent, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, stressed early detection and intervention and said assessment tools could help identify when intervention was required.
