“Troy’s treatment team at Children’s Specialized Hospital is extraordinary because they make sure you have everything you need to help your child meet their potential.”
At 16 months, Troy Holt stopped responding to his name.
Though Troy’s mother, Katrina, was concerned, the pediatrician advised a wait-and-see approach. But the boy’s godmother, trained in child development, insisted something was not right. She told Katrina about Children’s Specialized Hospital’s early intervention services and Katrina moved fast, discovering that the hospital was holding a free developmental screening clinic at the Newark Public Library the next day.
There, Amy Norton, MA, coordinator of the hospital’s community early developmental screening program, tested Troy and confirmed that he needed further evaluation. “It was heartbreaking to hear,” recalls Katrina. “But at the same time, she didn’t just say, ‘There’s something wrong with your son.’ I walked out of there feeling I had a friend.” Katrina had health insurance, so Amy urged her to immediately schedule an assessment at Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Amy emphasized, ‘Don’t sit on this.’ She made sure I was aware that I couldn’t let another day go by.”
Free developmental screenings in underserved communities like Newark, are part of Children’s Specialized Hospital’s extensive array of pioneering, top-quality autism services that are unparalleled in the region. The hospital leads in grant-funded research into autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in community education, in using the latest evidence-based therapies, and in its depth of specialized clinical expertise. Funded by Kohl’s Cares, its aggressive program of developmental screenings connects thousands more children to treatment earlier than ever – when intervention has the greatest impact on their futures.
In 2013, the hospital expanded its free developmental screening clinics from 18 to 36, with a parallel dramatic rise in children served from 196 to 384. Amy Norton sees their impact every day. “So many moms, like Katrina, aren’t sure. But with Troy, my trained eye picked up so many clear signs. The great part was, we knew after just 30 minutes. And we got Troy help.”
Troy’s clinical evaluation with an array of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools revealed he was on the autism spectrum. “I was devastated,” says Katrina. “For nine months, you hold your breath. Then they hand you that beautiful boy, and you breathe. Then someone says, ‘The party is over.’” Troy began receiving speech and occupational therapy, developmental instruction, and therapy with research-validated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques at Children’s Specialized Hospital.
“He has come so far,” says Katrina. “He’s talking. In school, he sings with the class, and recognizes and follows the routines. And he counts to ten in English and Spanish!” She adds, “Troy’s treatment team at Children’s Specialized Hospital is extraordinary because they make sure you have everything you need to help your child meet their potential.”
In 2013, the hospital took its autism services to the next level. With funding from Kohl’s Cares, the hospital educated community providers about meaningful social inclusion of people with autism, also providing safety training for first responders who help people with ASD. The hospital increased its innovative use of iPads for promoting communication, learning and skills. A $2.25 million research grant from the New Jersey Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism will enable Dr. Yvette Janvier, developmental-behavioral pediatrician and medical director at the Toms River site, to test the visual screening tool she created for effectiveness.
The leap in the number of free developmental screenings continues to change children’s lives. Says Katrina, “Had I not taken him to the library that day, Troy would not be where he is today. To hear him talking and chasing his sister gives me hope.”