Did you know that the first three years of a child’s life are considered the most crucial times for early learning development? If you are concerned about your child’s development, don’t wait! Research suggests that children who receive early intervention services are at less risk of falling significantly behind their peers as they get older. If you suspect your child may be developmentally delayed it is important that your family, consider early intervention services and receive the support you need!
What is early intervention?
Early intervention is a series of services provided to families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. These services are offered based on a child’s unique and individual needs. Early intervention helps children learn new skills and reach developmental milestones. At All About Speech and Language we offer Speech and Occupational therapies as a part of our early intervention services and are partnered with many professional organizations to help your child receive the help they need and deserve.
How can early intervention help?
According to the Early Intervention Foundation, early intervention helps children across the following areas: physical, cognitive, communication, behavioral and social-emotional skills. The benefits of early intervention may include improved academic performance in school with reduced likelihood of needing additional support in classroom setting.
Early intervention not only benefits the child but their family. As a result of early intervention services, families will become more knowledgeable and will be provided with the tools they need to support their child at home. Children are less likely to develop behavioral problems that would impede their ability to learn and grow. Research indicates that children are also more likely to develop better social communication skills and create better relationships with their family and peers.
Can I wait until my child is older?
If your child is suspected to have a developmental delay, it is critical that you seek early intervention services earlier than later. Unfortunately waiting to receive support until after these early developmental years can result in more harm than good. A common myth we hear is that a child will naturally “grow out of” a delay on their own. Children experiencing such developmental delays often require intervention from licensed and certified therapists in order to ensure continued developmental and growth. Having support in place to help a child develop early skills will reduce the likelihood that a child will fall behind.
Failure to intervene at a child’s early age can result in negative outcomes such as:
