Does Your Child Need Early Intervention?

 delays, disabilities, or special needs. A pediatrician will usually recommend an evaluation.

Does My Child Need Early Intervention?

Many families receive EI services after birth when a genetic or chromosomal disability (for example, Down syndrome) is identified, but other early red flags include sensory sensitivities, refusing to be held, fearing movement, or have feeding difficulties. "Milestones for biting, chewing and swallowing a variety of foods are typically accomplished by age three," says Melanie Potock, a speech and language pathologist in Longmont, Colorado, and author of Happy Mealtimes with Happy Kids. If you notice that your child is not developing significant skills around the

 same age as her peers or older siblings, visit the First Signs website, which lists the average ages that children typically reach specific milestones.

Types of Early Interventions

Early intervention begins with a team evaluation to identify a child's needs. "Research reveals that early intervention services can considerably mitigate the effects of developmental delays. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy services may be necessary in order to promote motor skills, speech, and language development," Dr. Zachry says. Early intervention services may include counseling, social work, therapies (occupational, physical, and speech), psychological services, audiology, and vision services.

These services can be as simple as recommending hearing aids for a baby who has a diagnosed hearing loss or eyeglasses for a toddler who does not