Early Intervention

Early Intervention is a term used to describe services to support young children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Services include speech therapy, physical therapy, sensory integration therapy and other types of services based on the needs of the child and family. Early identification of developmental delays has a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and increase their success in school and life.

Acting early can help a child communicate, play, and learn from the world sooner rather than later. Screening to identify developmental delays is an important step to preventing unnecessary frustration, common in children with communication difficulties. Developmental delays involving speech, fine and gross motor skills and sensory integration challenges affect nearly one in 12 children.

Teachers and school administrators are often the first voice telling a parent that their child may benefit by a screening or evaluation. As a parent of a child with learning disabilities, a sensory disorder and ADHD, I was devastated the first time a teacher expressed her worries for my child. In fact, it took several times to hear the same concerns before we were able to accept that our child needed some interventions.

I am pleased to share that all children attending a licensed child-care program in the state of Delaware are required to have an annual Ages and Stages Screening. Results are most accurate when a parent or primary caregiver completes the screening. We will be sharing more information with you in the very near future with directions and instructions for completing an Ages and Stages screening for your child.

In the meantime, read on to access additional resources about the screening tool, its user-friendly format, and again, why these screenings are so important to the developmental needs of children.

What is Sensory Integration?

Internal and external responses to sensory stimuli vary greatly among individuals, but intervention is necessary when there is a mismatch between a person’s neurophysiological sensory processing and integration abilities and his or her environment. The environment includes both the physical presence of sensory stimuli and tasks that require sensory processing and integration. Sensory processing factors can affect sleep, motor development, play, behavior, and resiliency.

Here We Grow! Delaware's Developmental Screening Initiative - Ages and Stages

How Parents of Toddlers Can Support Social-Emotional Development (agesandstages.com)

Download CDC’s Milestone Tracker App

Use CDC’s easy-to-use app with illustrated checklists to track your child’s development from 2-months to 5-years. The app can help you communicate with your child’s doctor or early intervention contact about your child’s milestones and any concerns. The app also provides tips for encouraging your child’s development.

Why Screen? 

·         To detect delays early

·         To improve child outcomes

·         To encourage parent involvement and education

·          Because screening is recommended by major educational and medical organizations, including – American Academy of Pediatrics – Head Start – Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT), Medicaid’s child health program

What Is ASQ-3?

·         The third edition of widely used developmental screening tool

·         A series of illustrated parent- or caregivercompleted questionnaire

·         Used to accurately identify children who may be at risk for developmental delays

·         Designed to encourage parent involvement and education

·         Low-cost, reliable, and rigorously tested

·         Online questionnaire completion and online data management systems

Why Choose ASQ-3?

·         Proven accurate by new research—highly reliable and valid

·         “Anytime” screening—expanded administration windows so the intervals are seamless from 1 through 66 months

·          Fast and easy scoring

·          Educating families and parent friendly

·          Strengths based—it’s easy to share results and talk about a child’s development