If you’re like most parents, you want what’s best for your child. And if you’re concerned about your child’s development, you may be wondering if Early Intervention is the right choice for them. In this article, we’ll discuss what Early Intervention is and how it can help children who are experiencing developmental delays. We’ll also provide tips on how to find and choose an Early Intervention program. Some parents may hesitate to reach out for help for their late-talking child, worrying that their child is simply behind and will catch up eventually. However, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between a developmental lag and a speech impairment such as apraxia.; a complex disorder that requires specialized intervention.
A developmental lag refers to any child who is not meeting developmental milestones, including speech, as expected. Early Intervention in the US is a program offered to children that meet the criteria from birth to three years old. The term early intervention can also refer to any therapy provided during this time. While Early Intervention, or EI for short, is benign and can be beneficial for any late-talking child, it’s vital for those with a speech impairment such as apraxia which requires appropriate and typically frequent therapy to teach them how to become verbal communicators. Even though 75% of late talkers are children with developmental lags, which means the child will start talking at some point with or without therapy, just later, because we don’t know which children fall into the other 25%, it’s a good idea to seek Early Intervention if your child is a late talker.
Here are 10 more reasons to contact Early Intervention:
1. To get professional help for your child’s development
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, Early Intervention can provide you with the help you need. Children who are experiencing developmental delays can get help from Early Intervention. This is a service that provides free or low-cost help from trained professionals.
2. It’s free or low cost
Another reason to contact Early Intervention is that it’s free or low cost. This means that you can get the help your child needs without breaking the bank.
3. To get resources and support as a parent or caregiver
As a parent or caregiver, you need all the support you can get. Early Intervention can provide you with resources and support so you can be the best caregiver you can be.
When you’re looking for help for your child, Early Intervention can provide you with referrals to other resources and services. They have a wide network of resources that can help your child reach their full potential. Some of these resources include:
4. To help your child socialize
If your child is having trouble socializing, Early Intervention can help. The professionals can teach your child how to interact with other children and adults in a healthy way.
5. To improve communication
Early Intervention can help your child with communication. If your child is nonverbal or has difficulty communicating, the professionals can help them develop their communication skills both verbally and nonverbally.
6. To learn new developmentally appropriate activities
Early Intervention can provide you and your child with new activities to do together that are developmentally appropriate. This can help your child meet their developmental milestones.
7. To help your child transition to the school IEP program
While the birth to three program ends at three years old, many Early Intervention programs offer assistance in transitioning your child into your town’s special education preschool program which begins at 3 years old.
8. Get help in your home
Some Early Intervention programs offer in-home services. This means that a professional can come to your home and work with you and your child on developmental goals.
9. To get help in your child’s daycare or preschool
If your child attends daycare preschool, the staff there may not be trained in Early Intervention. However, many Early Intervention programs offer consultation services to daycare and preschool staff.
10. To get support and resources as a parent or caregiver
When you contact Early Intervention, you will be able to get information about your child’s development. This information can help you understand how your child is doing, and it can also help you track their progress. You can use this information to help you decide if you need to seek more specialized help for your child.
When you’re looking for help for your child, Early Intervention can provide you with referrals to other resources and services. They have a wide network of resources that can help your child reach their full potential. Some of these resources include:
- Therapists
- Counselors
- Special Education Programs
- Community Resources
- Support Groups
- Online Resources
- Books and Publications
- Family Resources
- Financial Assistance
What is Early Intervention?
Early Intervention is a service that provides free or low-cost help from trained professionals to children who are experiencing developmental delays from birth to three years old. Developmental delays can include delays in physical, cognitive, social, or emotional development. Early Intervention can also help children who have medical conditions.
Contact Early Intervention
Contacting Early Intervention is the best way to get help for your child if you’re concerned about their development. Early Intervention is a service that provides free or low-cost help from trained professionals. They can provide you with information, resources, and support to help you care for your child.
Find an Early Intervention program in your area
Contacting early intervention may seem like an extreme step, but it can be the difference between a child who catches up with their peers and one who struggles for the rest of their life. Fred Rogers said it best when he remarked that “whatever else we do in life, we should never underestimate the importance of nurturing our youngest citizens”. When it comes to helping children with late talking, don’t wait – contact your local early intervention center today. You can contact Early Intervention by phone, or email. Search for your state here.
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LISA GENG
Author, Mom, Founder, and President of The Cherab Foundation
Lisa Geng is an accomplished author, mother, founder, and president of the CHERAB Foundation. She is a patented inventor and creator in the fashion, toy, and film industries. After the early diagnosis of her two young children with severe apraxia, hypotonia, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and CAPD, she dedicated her life to nonprofit work and pilot studies. Lisa is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book “The Late Talker” (St Martin’s Press 2003). She has hosted numerous conferences, including one overseen by a medical director from the NIH for her protocol using fish oils as a therapeutic intervention. Lisa currently holds four patents and patents pending on a nutritional composition. She is a co-author of a study that used her proprietary nutritional composition published in a National Institute of Health-based, peer-reviewed medical journal.
Additionally, Lisa has been serving as an AAN Immunization Panel parent advocate since 2015 and is a member of CUE through Cochrane US. Currently working on her second book, “The Late Talker Grows Up,” she also serves as an executive producer of “Late Talkers Silent Voices.” Lisa Geng lives on the Treasure Coast of Florida.