As a loving parent, you want nothing more than for your child to thrive. By ensuring they are meeting early-stage developmental milestones, you will set them up for success later in life. If you have a toddler and are worried about his or her development, early intervention may be the answer. This solution can help kids with unique diagnoses, like Autism, as well as those with generalized developmental challenges. Find out more below.

How Does Early Intervention Work?

Early intervention consists of multiple services designed to help infants and toddlers to master basic development skills. Depending on the child, early intervention may address physical points like rolling and crawling; cognitive points like problem-solving; or communication and social skills, from listening to playing. Self-help skills, like eating, may also be covered in early intervention.

The scope and style of early intervention depends on the child's unique needs. Possible services could include speech and language therapy, psychological care, nutrition services, or physical therapy. Sometimes, early intervention may also encompass the child's environment and include home visits. Such family-directed services help parents to understand their child's special needs and how to meet them.

Is Early Intervention Right for Your Child? 

To qualify for early intervention, children must exhibit either a developmental delay or a certain health condition that is likely to cause a delay, such as a birth defect or hearing loss. Sometimes, children who are considered at risk for delays—such as those with a low birth weight—may also benefit from early intervention. Another example is a child who has been exposed to drugs or other hazardous environmental factors.

If you think your child could benefit from early intervention, the first step is to consult a health care professional. Come prepared with a list of concerns—for example, if your toddler hasn't started talking yet. A physician can then evaluate your child, looking for signs of development issues or delays, such as Autism, that might warrant early intervention.

If you have a child with developmental challenges, such as Autism, Patterns Behavioral Services of Brea, CA, (and locations in 10 other states in the US) can help them to thrive. Led by a team of board-certified behavior analysts and therapists, this family-focused center offers individualized therapeutic support tokids with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They work with infants as young as 18 months. Visit their website to learn more about their services, and call (800) 789-3062 for a consultation.