Early intervention.. Is it necessary? Does it really work?

[Anonymous]

My almost 10 month old qualifies for the Montgomery County early intervention program. We wanted her assessed because she's not crawling yet. She actually qualifies based on daily life skills (can't feed herself for example). She didn't qualify based on her gross motor skills because they are evaluating her as a 9 month old instead of 10. In any case, she qualified. Has anyone here gone through EI with your baby? Wondering if it's necessary and if it really helps? I started walking at 16 months and my parents weren't worried at all and wondering if I need to be as chill as them.

[Anonymous]

If your child weren't walking at 16 months, she wouldn't qualify for services (that's an 18-month milestone, and you have to be 25% delayed or more, so it would be sometime after 18 months to get services).

The services are free. They are convenient - they come to your house or child care situation. The services will likely help, but definitely won't hurt. Why wouldn't you do it? You don't have to tell people if you are afraid of what they will think of you (for, you know, helping a baby who needs it). But I can't imagine asking for an expert's help and then deciding I knew better than them (particularly where the suggested course was free, convenient, and painless for the child involved).

[Anonymous]

Is there a reason not to do it!

[Anonymous]

PP again, that is a question.

[Anonymous]

You should absolutely do it.

[Anonymous]

this is not the place to ask this question. the answer is always: yes yes yes irrespective of the type of delay or the kinds of services. also: and it' can't hurt. because it's totally costless to go through it or something.

[Anonymous]

pre-k special education teacher here. granted, there are confounding variables, but i can tell when a kid comes to me who has not had early intervention.

i'd like to echo PP - services are free and convenient. won't take up very much of your time. and will likely be heavily helping you help baby. it may be a lot of stuff you already know how to do and are doing anyways. but like PP's said, there's no reason not to at least give it a shot. i think it's very unlikely you'll regret doing it and you might regret not doing it if you choose not to.

[Anonymous]

teacher again -- i should add that there is lots and lots of research to suggest that EI does work and that lots and lots of the children who will get EI will "catch up" so to speak and will no longer need intervention services

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should absolutely do it.

+ a million.

OP, there is no downside to this. OT or PT or whatever they have you scheduled for will only help.

[Anonymous]

The ASSESSMENT is free. The services are offered on a sliding scale. Our son qualifies for speech therapy. He currently has sessions 2x a month at $150 each. Our family cost cap, based on our income, is $276 per month and they cover the difference. Not much of a discount, but if they decide to bump him to 4x a month (which may happen based on his progress and some further hearing tests), it will still cost us $276 per month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ASSESSMENT is free. The services are offered on a sliding scale. Our son qualifies for speech therapy. He currently has sessions 2x a month at $150 each. Our family cost cap, based on our income, is $276 per month and they cover the difference. Not much of a discount, but if they decide to bump him to 4x a month (which may happen based on his progress and some further hearing tests), it will still cost us $276 per month.

Sorry, this is Infant and Toddler Connection in Fairfax. Other agencies/states may work differently.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would you NOT use these?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is not the place to ask this question. the answer is always: yes yes yes irrespective of the type of delay or the kinds of services. also: and it' can't hurt. because it's totally costless to go through it or something.

But isn't this free? And if they come to your house, it sounds like there would be limited opportunity costs, no? Not saying it might not still take some time and possibly a bit of time away from work, but this is hardly the same as advocating spending thousands of dollars on, for example, a neuropsych eval "just in case"

[Anonymous]

They don't offer those services to kids who are not significantly delayed.

Yes early intervention works at closing gaps between typical and non-typically developing kids. But there may always be a slight different or the child may always have some special needs.

Accept it and do whatever practice work the therapist gives you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is not the place to ask this question. the answer is always: yes yes yes irrespective of the type of delay or the kinds of services. also: and it' can't hurt. because it's totally costless to go through it or something.

But isn't this free? And if they come to your house, it sounds like there would be limited opportunity costs, no? Not saying it might not still take some time and possibly a bit of time away from work, but this is hardly the same as advocating spending thousands of dollars on, for example, a neuropsych eval "just in case"

No, it is not free. The assessment is free. You pay for the services.