Born seven weeks premature, Alfred Galvan Jr. was enrolled in the Infant Toddler Assessment Program at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center more than five years ago. In the program, specialists closely monitor at-risk children's development from birth through age 3. They also secure any needed assistance to help every child reach his or her potential.
Alfred appeared to be doing just fine, until he neared his second birthday. Then, mom Sheila Galvan noticed Alfred stopped making eye contact. His vocabulary seemed to disappear, and his attention span shortened. "He had trouble being focused," she says.
Sheila took Alfred to see developmental pediatrician Denise Aloisio, M.D., who leads the newly established K. Hovnanian Intergrated Diagnostic and Developmental Services (KIDDS) program, which screens children for autism and other developmental issues. Testing revealed the difficult diagnosis: Alfred had autism.
Improving Outcomes for Kids
Alfred was brought to one of the best possible places for a child with autism. K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital has supported children with autism and their families for years through expert assessment and monitoring, and by securing community services for them.
The hospital was recently chose as one of only six centers in New Jersey to receive a $1 million state grant to enhance the services for children with autism.
Dr. Aloisio explains that the signs and symptoms of autism can surface bfore age 2 and that early treatment is key. "The earlier the intervention, the better the outcome," she says.
The primary focus of the grant is to enhance clinical services for children and families and provide support and information to pediatricians and community agencies so that children like Alfred are identified sooner than they might be otherwise.
Connecting Care in the Community
The grant will also help further improve the hospital's secondary screening capabilities and help it provide better coordination among language and motor therapy providers, social skill intervention providers, and behavioral therapists in the community. Families and children will benefit from this enhanced service level.
"When you provide more opportunities for children like Alfred, it's been shown to make a big difference," says Dr. Aloisio. "This grant strengthens our ability to do so."
'Every Child Has Hope'
When Alfred was around 2 years old, Dr. Aloisio recommended the family contact the county Early Intervention Program for intensive services including speech, occupational, and developmental therapies. Sheila and her husband, Alfred Sr., will forever be grateful for Dr. Aloisio and the way she championed Alfred.
"When we started out, Dr. Aloisio told us that while every child is different, every child has hope. Children rise to the occasion," Sheila says. "The diagonsis was scary, but Alfred is doing very well."
Today, Alfred attends school in the Jackson school district. "He loves to read, and he reads above grade level," says Sheila. He also enjoys race-car driving, movies, and spending time with his best friend. Soon, Sheila expects Alfred to be mainstreamed into regular classes.
About the Doctor
Denise Aloisio, M.D.
Board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Development/Behavior, and Neurodevelopmental Disability
Neptune | 732-776-4178
