WHAT IS EARLY INTERVENTION?
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a term that is used to describe a system of services designed to help address the needs of children ages 0 to 3 years. It is well known that identifying and addressing deficits early on can have a great impact on the issue at hand. The ECI program, which is mandated by federal law, is available throughout the United States to all who need and qualify for the service. In general, early intervention also refers to the identification and treatment of developmental deficits or disorders experienced by young children within the first three years of life. Some children may need to access early intervention services because of difficulties related to a medical condition with which they were born. Other children may need to access early intervention because of deficits related to significantly slower development than that of their peers or because of some unanticipated event that is affecting development. Regardless of the need for the service it is imperative for you to know that the service exists.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION?
ECI programs may address deficits including or related to one or several areas like:
- communication, e.g., speaking; understanding
- hearing
- vision
- gross motor (large muscle) functioning, e.g., standing; trunk control
- fine motor (small muscle) functioning, e.g., hands; grasping
- assistive technology, e.g., using devices to aid with communication, mobility, or another area of need
- behavior/psychology
- social work
- coordinating services with other agencies, including transitioning to school-based services
- health/medical needs, e.g., nursing
- nutritional services
- family/caregiver education
HOW CAN I ACCESS EARLY INTERVENTION?
ECI services can be accessed across the United States and in some U.S. territories as well. If you have concerns about your 0 to 3 year old child’s development, please discuss them with a qualified professional and be sure to click on the link above to find out more about accessing services for your child.
If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. Lastly, if you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.
REFERENCES
- Early Intervention Program. New York State Department of Health. Retrieved on April 11, 2018 from https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/.
- State Part C Coordinators. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. Retrieved on April 11, 2018 from http://ectacenter.org/contact/ptccoord.asp