Early Intervention
Tackling Delays Early
By connecting families with early developmental screenings, resources, and support services, we help children reach key milestones and set the foundation for lifelong growth and well-being.
Early Intervention
Early intervention is a system of services that helps babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Early intervention focuses on helping eligible babies and toddlers learn the necessary and brand-new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life, such as:
- physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking);
- cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems);
- communication (talking, listening, understanding);
- social/emotional (playing, feeling secure and happy); and
- self-help (eating, dressing).
If an infant or toddler has a disability or a developmental delay in one or more of these developmental areas, that child will likely be eligible for early intervention services. Those services will be tailored to meet the child’s individual needs and may include:
- Assistive technology (devices a child might need)
- Audiology or hearing services
- Speech and language services
- Counseling and training for a family
- Medical services
- Nursing services
- Nutrition services
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological services
Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires Early Intervention services to be available in every state and territory of the United States.
Early Intervention
Who’s eligible for Early Intervention?
Early intervention is intended for infants and toddlers who have a developmental delay or disability. Eligibility is determined by evaluating the child (with parents’ consent) to see if the little one does have a delay in development or a disability. Eligible children can receive early intervention services from birth through the third birthday (and sometimes beyond).
Eligibility
What's a Developmental Delay?
The term “developmental delay” is an important one in early intervention. It means that a child is delayed in some area of development. There are five areas in which development may be affected:
- Cognitive
- Physical, including vision and hearing
- Communication
- Social or emotional
- Adaptive
Babies and toddlers have many new skills to learn, so it’s always of concern when a child’s development seems slow or more difficult than would normally be expected.
Developmental Delay
Screening and Diagnosis
The main sign that a child might have CP is a delay in reaching motor or movement milestones (such as rolling over, sitting, standing, or walking).
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention shared that diagnosing CP at an early age is important to the well-being of children and their families. Diagnosing CP can take several steps:
- Developmental Monitoring
- Developmental Screening
- Developmental and Medical Evaluations
If you think your child is not meeting movement milestones or might have CP, contact your doctor or nurse and share your concerns.
If you or your doctor is still concerned, ask for a referral to a specialist who can do a more in-depth evaluation of your child and assist in making a diagnosis.
Contact us now to learn more about screening and diagnosis.
Concerned about Baby or Toddler's Development?
It’s not uncommon for people to become concerned when their beautiful baby or growing toddler doesn’t seem to be developing according to the normal schedule of “baby” milestones.
- “He hasn’t rolled over yet.”
- “The little girl next door is already sitting up on her own!”
- “She should be saying a few words by now.”
Sound familiar? While it’s true that children develop differently, at their own pace, and that the range of what’s “normal” development is quite broad, it’s hard not to worry and wonder.
If you think that your child is not developing at the same pace or in the same way as most children his or her age, it is often a good idea to talk first to your child’s pediatrician. Explain your concerns. Tell the doctor what you have observed with your child. Your child may have a disability or a developmental delay, or he or she may be at risk of having a disability or delay.
Contact us now to schedule an appointment with an Early Intervention Specialist to have your child screened free of charge.
