We all get excited about our children's accomplishments — from the first time they rolled over to the first time they uttered a real word — but for some mothers these bragging rights are more monumental if their lil one had a delay of some sort.
According to the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, approximately 300,000 infants and toddlers received some sort of Early Intervention in 2006 and that number is only expected to rise in coming years. Early Intervention is the federally mandated, state-run program that provides services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy to tots that are experiencing delays. Though program rules vary from state to state, the programs are usually tailored for tots under the age of three, with the hope being that the services will address the delays before the toddler reaches school.
Does (or did) your child take part in these programs?
Francesco Biasia
Argos
Cosmence
My son received early intervention speech therapy starting at 18 month old. He is now 7 and receives it through our local school district. This is probably his last year and all the therapists we have worked with have done a great job.
1My daughter went in for the evaluation, and they recommended once a week speech therapy, but they haven't gotten a therapist to take her in yet. Honestly, I understand there's a wait, and it's almost as if she's starting to talk without needs for a speech therapist now anyhow!
2We had my son evaluated for speech therapy but because his receptive skills were above average (while his expressive were below) he didn't qualify. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast the process was though.
3Yes. DD received speech therapy at around 2-3 years for late talking.
4katedavis - we were in the same position. Receptive was so far ahead that he didn't qualify for it. We are now doing some private therapy and have found it to be very helpful in providing my son with some tricks that have increased his confidence when he speaks.
5My oldest was evaluated because he had a very limited vocabulary at age two, but it ended up that his understood vocabulary more than balanced it out. He then met the requirements at his follow-up and didn't need therapy.
6We used the state sponsored early intervention program in our state when my son was young. He had a problem with feeding. He didn't like many textures of food. We actually used a speech therapist to work with him. She helped him learn to try new foods and feed himself. He was a little over 18 months and we used their services until he was over 2. It was the best program!
7We got pt services when he was a few months old... he had fibromatosis which can become torticolis and it was a preventative measure, but it was PRICELESS in what it did for our son AND what it taught us as parents to do ourselves. it wasnt a very quick process tho... took like two months for the approval, but we had a great therapist.
8Yes. Our little boy has Down Syndrome so we have therapists that come to the house. So far he is on target with all of the typical "milestones"
9i am working as early interventionist in INDIA and will feel great pleasure by helping any needy.
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