Surat: Children with developmental and other special healthcare needs may soon have access to additional diagnostic and treatment facilities at the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) atSurat New Civil Hospital. According to a report the centre is set to expand its services with audiology testing, a special dental chair and paediatric EEG testing.
The DEIC, which operates from the ninth floor of the Stem Cell Building at New Civil Hospital, is being developed as a more comprehensive facility where children can receive diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation services under one roof.
The District Early Intervention Centre model under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is designed to identify health conditions early and provide referral, treatment and follow-up support for children.
Three New Facilities Planned at DEIC Surat New Civil Hospital
The proposed expansion will focus on three key services that can particularly benefit children with developmental disabilities and other special healthcare requirements.
1. Audiology Testing for Early Hearing Detection
A dedicated audiology setup will help assess the hearing ability of newborns and children, including children who may not yet be able to communicate verbally.
Early identification of hearing difficulties is important because timely intervention and speech-language support can improve communication outcomes. The DEIC framework itself includes hearing-related screening and audiology services as part of comprehensive child healthcare.
The new facility is expected to make hearing assessment more accessible to families who otherwise may need to visit separate centres for specialised testing.
2. Special Dental Chair for Children
The centre will also introduce a special dental chair designed for children requiring additional support during dental procedures.
Children with conditions such as autism or cerebral palsy may find it difficult to sit comfortably in a conventional dental clinic. A child-friendly setup and trained staff can help provide dental examination and treatment in a safer and more suitable environment.
The DEIC model already recognises paediatric dental services as an important component of early intervention, particularly for children’s teeth, gums and oral hygiene.
The proposed facility is expected to help address issues such as cavities, tooth decay and chewing-related difficulties among children who require specialised care.
3. Paediatric EEG Testing for Brain Monitoring
Another major addition will be a paediatric EEG setup. An electroencephalogram (EEG) records electrical activity in the brain and can be useful in evaluating children with certain neurological conditions, including seizure-related problems.
The proposed facility will provide specialised monitoring in a child-focused environment. According to the newspaper report, private facilities can charge around ₹4,500 to ₹5,000 for such testing, while the new facility at DEIC is expected to reduce the financial burden on families.
DEIC Aims to Become a One-Stop Centre
With these additions, the New Civil Hospital’s DEIC is expected to move closer to becoming a one-stop solution for diagnosis, treatment and therapy for children with developmental and other special needs.
Government guidelines describe DEICs as centres that provide confirmation of diagnosis, referral support, management and follow-up after children are identified through screening programmes. The paediatric department of Government Medical College, Surat, also lists the District Early Intervention Centre among its specialised services for children with physical and developmental disabilities.
Over One Lakh Children Reportedly Benefited
According to the newspaper report, the Surat centre has provided services to more than 1 lakh children over the past decade, with the reported figure standing at 1,00,368 children. The expansion of diagnostic facilities is expected to further strengthen the centre’s ability to provide specialised services closer to children and their families.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters for Children
Early diagnosis can play an important role in identifying developmental, hearing, neurological and other health conditions at an earlier stage.
A DEIC is designed around this early-intervention approach, bringing multiple specialists and services together so that children can receive assessment and appropriate intervention without families having to navigate multiple healthcare facilities. The proposed audiology, paediatric dental and EEG facilities could therefore make the Surat DEIC more comprehensive for children requiring specialised healthcare support.
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