Metro

Tuesday October 23, 2007

Hidden talents of autistic children

By CHAN LI LEEN

CARDIOLOGIST Dr Mah Hang Soon was in Kuala Lumpur when he saw a young man playing the piano at a competition.

“It was marvellous. He played so well, his fingers were moving faster than my eyes could see,” he said.

It never occurred to Dr Mah that the 28-year-old talent and multiple-diploma holder was autistic.

When Dr Mah spoke to the parents later, he learned that as a child, their son had changed schools six times.

“Teachers complained that he did not do his work or mix with the other children,” Dr Mah related at an autism seminar and workshop organised by the Perak Wanita MCA in Ipoh on Sunday.

Inspiring: Dr Mah relating his story to seminar participants.
“It wasn’t until the principal of a school accepted him and allowed him to progress at his own pace that the young man became the talented person he is today,” he added.

Dr Mah, who is also Perak MCA organising secretary, feels that every child, especially autistic and special children, should be given that one chance.

“Many autistic children have hidden talents we are unaware of until they are given a chance to show and develop them.

“It is important to detect autism and its related disorders early to ensure proper care and training to reduce the burden of dependence on society in the long run,” he said.

Figures released by the Ipoh Hospital showed that the number of autistic children in Ipoh alone was between 650 and 800.

Many, however, remained undiagnosed, said Dr Mah.

“Studies show that between 0.3% and 0.5% of the population is autistic. And this can go up to 1% if we include those with related disorders.

“So where are all these children? They could be in schools where teachers are too busy to notice them or have forgotten about them,” he said.

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