Deepa Bhaskaran

Dynamic Director in Charge at the Child Development Centre with a robust foundation in neurodevelopment principles and a strong advocacy for neurodivergent children. Proven track record in managing developmental pediatrics research and organizing national conferences, showcasing exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. Committed to advancing child development through effective administration and training initiatives.

I. New Clinics started

1. CVI Clinic : The CVI Clinic commenced operations at CDC in January 2024. Infants at risk of CVI undergo screening and receive interventions at this facility, which operates on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.

2. “KUDE”-Palliative Care Clinic—The Kude Clinic began operating at the CDC in January 2024. It offers counseling services for parents of children with NDD and operates on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

3. Teenage Club for children with Type I Diabetes: The Teenage Club began operating at the CDC in November 2023. The club activities include awareness classes, life skill education, and fun activities for the adolescents, including various art performances by the children.

4.. ASD Resource Book

A comprehensive Resource Book on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was done after conducting content development workshops, Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), expert interviews, and an extensive national and international literature review. This was done with the support of KSSM. The book was released by Hon Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice, Dr R Bindu, on 3rd September 2024.

5. CDC-Foetal Medicine Department : Steps have been taken to upgrade CDC-Foetal Medicine Unit to CDC-Foetal Medicine Department in association with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, SAT Hospital, through Directorate of Medical Education. This will be a benchmark service to the public and will be a very important step to further reduce IMR in the state.

6. Major research publications in the last five years are the following:

1. George B, Raju JRA, Leela LM, Bhaskaran D, Indiradevi L, Thulaseedharan N. Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among higher secondary students in a district in Kerala. Int J Community Med Public Health 2021; 8: 3074-8.

2. George, B., Raju, J. R. A., Leela, L. M., Bhaskaran, D., Indiradevi, L., Thulaseedharan, N., Mahendran, P., & Scaria, L. M. (2021). Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among higher secondary students in a district in Kerala. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(6), 3074–3078. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212018

3. Scaria LM, Bhaskaran D, George B. Prevalence of Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) Among Children in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. June 2022. doi: 10.1177/02537176221100128

4. Babu G, Scaria LM, Prasanna GL, Deepa B, Leena ML, Remadevi S. A Nine-Item Red Flag Sign Card for Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder among Toddlers Aged 12 to 18 Months. Indian J Pediatr. 2022; 89(3): 288-290. doi: 10.1007/s12098-021-04021-y

5. Sanjeev V. Thomas, Panniyammakal Jeemon, Manna Jose, Lekshmi Madhavan Amrithum, Deepa Bhaskar, Muttathu Krishnapanicker Chandrasekharan Nair, Babu George. Differential impact of antenatal exposure to antiseizure medications on motor and mental development in infants of women with epilepsy. Epileptic Disorders. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1684/epd.2022.1414

6. Scaria L, Soman B, George B et al. Determinants of very low birth weight in India: The National Family Health Survey – 4 [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Res 2022, 7:20 (https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17463.2)

7. Bhaskaran, D., Thomas, S., & Scaria, L. M. Neurobehavioral Outcomes of Children with Antenatal Exposure to Antiseizure Medications. Indian J Pediatr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-024-05165-3

8. Deepa Bhaskaran, Liss Scaria & Babu George (06 Aug 2024): Grief among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review, International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2024.2387401

9. Bhaskaran, D., George, B. Savant Syndrome. Indian J Pediatr 89, 735 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04202-3

10. Deepa Bhaskaran, Babu George, Leena M. L., Preema Mahendran, Neethu T., Prasanna G. L., Resmi V. R., Remadevi S. Translating and validating the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT-R/F) into Malayalam for effective utilization in the clinical setting. Int J Contemp Pediatr. 2024 Dec; 11(12): 1747-1751

11. Babu George, Jubyraj Aswathymana Raju, Leena Mundappaliyil Leela, Mini Appukkuttan Omana, Deepa Bhaskaran, Remadevi Saradamma. Development and Validation of a Tool for Assessing Pre‐Writing Skills of 2‐5 y old Children. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-023-04776-6

12. Babu George, Juby Raj A. R., Leena M. L.*, Deepa Bhaskaran, Lalikumari I., Preema Mahendran, Neethu T. Prevalence and determinants of acanthosis nigricans among adolescents: a school-based cross-sectional study in Southern Kerala. Int J Res Dermatol. 2025 Jan; 11(1): 46-51. http://www.ijord.com. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20243875

13. Babu George, Deepa Bhaskaran, Leena M. L.*, Juby Raj A. R., Lalikumari I., Preema Mahendran, Neethu T. Prevalence and Patterns of Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors in Adolescents: A South-Kerala School Based Study. Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. Volume 24, Issue 1; Jan-Mar 2025.

7. Major training programs conducted at the CDC in the field of early detection of developmental delays and disabilities include:

1. Training Program for District Early Intervention Centre staff in Kerala focused on the diagnosis and management of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children.

2. A two-day Training Program on the early detection of disabilities for child development project officers (CDPOs) and integrated child development services (ICDS) supervisors.

3. Training of Trainers Program on the first 1,000 days for Child Development Program Officers (CDPOs) and Supervisors of the Women and Child Development Department.

4. Training Program for caretakers of the District Child Protection Unit on the management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.

5. Training Program for pediatricians and District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) staff in Jammu & Kashmir on the management of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

6. Training Program for Anganwadi Workers in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation area on early detection and early intervention for developmental delays in children aged 0-3 years. disabilities in children.

Trained in NDST tools at AIIMS, New Delhi.

Completed one month of training in autism at CMC Vellore.

TOT trainer for ISAA and disability certification for autism.

Trained in sensory integration and praxis testing.

Trained in solution-focused brief therapy.

Vice Chairperson of the National Chapter of Developmental Pediatrics - 2025.