Overview
Lenti fuq l-Iżvilupp ta` Wliedna is a national early screening programme for potential developmental delays. This programme helps to identify possible developmental delays, learning difficulties, and/or educational needs so that children can be supported before starting early years education. Assessment is carried out by speech and language pathologists from the Ministry for Health. Invitations are sent to parents/ guardians of children at 24 months to participate in the Lenti screening from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR).
What you'll get
The Lenti fuq l-Izvilupp t’Uliedna homes a preventive approach to identify and cater as early as possible children’s potential difficulties arising from developmental delays. In NO instance does the service provide a final diagnosis for Autism in infants.
This service aims to:
- screen (rather than diagnose) all 18-month old infants before commencing early years education, to assess for any delays in communication, social skills and movement;
- synergise support services; manage and streamline the overall facilitation of support services available to children;
- increase access to appropriate and timely services thus reducing the need for more intensive intervention later on in the child’s life.
A test is carried out with parents in the form of a short questionnaire. Parents provide answers to a number of set questions (M-CHAT). The questionnaire responses cannot provide conclusive evidence of any delays or difficulties or an immediate diagnosis, however it helps to identify possible difficulties which could lead to an early diagnosis through further in-depth assessments.
Eligibility
Invitations are sent to parents/ guardians of children at 24 months to participate in the Lenti screening from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR).
How to apply
Invites are sent to parents/ guardians to participate in the Lenti screening programme. However, if the child is 18 months old and has not participated in this screening programme, the parent/ guardian may
- call the Speech-Language Department on 79318423 or 21230822 to schedule a screening appointment from 08:00 to 14:00 (Monday to Friday), or
- send an email on speechlanguage@gov.mt.
Parents/guardians need to print, fill in and take the Consent Form to the screening appointment.
