5 Signs Your Child May Benefit from Early Intervention

Watching your child grow is an exciting time in any parent's life. But it also brings on plenty of questions, regardless if you are a first-time parent or not. You may wonder if they are reaching their milestones on time, or whether certain behaviors are simply part of their personality.

While each child develops differently, some may reach milestones sooner than others. And in many cases this is normal. However, spotting delays in your child’s progress may be a sign that they could benefit from additional support.

That’s where early intervention comes in. But what are the signs exactly and what is early intervention? In this guide, we’ll dive into all. From five signs that may indicate that your child may benefit from early intervention, explain exactly what it is and where you can seek help if needed.

Is It Normal to Worry About Your Child's Development?

Yes, it is completely normal to worry about your child’s development. Most parents spend the early stages of a child’s life wondering if they are on track. It's completely normal to watch children interact with friends and wonder if they’re on the right track. This is especially true because in those early stages, new skills almost seem to appear overnight.

What Is Early Intervention?

Early Intervention (EI) is a system of services typically done from birth to 3 years old. These services include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, developmental therapy, or other specialized services. All of which are aimed at providing your child with the support they need for their development.

The goal with EI isn’t to get a child on the same track as another, instead it is to give your child the support needed to develop the skills they need during the years where their brains are developing rapidly. It is also to give the child the skills they need to communicate, move, play and learn for years to come. According to the CDC, every U.S. state and territory offers these services, and a doctor's referral isn't required to request an evaluation.

Why Acting Early Matters

Acting early matters because during the first few years of a child’s life their brain is forming connections that support communication, movement, learning, and social skills. Introducing support to strengthen these skills allows the child to practice them while those connections are still developing. Introducing them later can require more time and although progress is possible at any age, starting early gives children the best chance to build confidence and reach their full potential.

5 Signs Your Child May Benefit from Earl

Missed milestones aren’t usually a major red flag. But if you notice a few or more signs of delay, you may want to consider a conversation with your pediatrician or an early intervention evaluation.

1. Communication and Language Delays

Speech and language are often the first signs of delay parents noticed. This can look like your 12 month old not babbling or saying full words by 16 months. Communication delays can also be seen when children have difficulty following simple directions like “come here” or give me the toy”.

If this sounds familiar, it may help to read up on language development milestones from birth to five so you know what's typical at each stage.

2. Motor Skill Delays

Motor skills speak to both big movements also known as gross motor skills and smaller movements also known as fine motor skills. In young children this can be delayed rolling, crawling or walking. It can look like them having trouble grasping toys, utensils and crayons.

You may also notice that they are a bit more clumsy or have poor balance for their age. Delays in motor skill development also show up in small tasks like tying shoes or pinning buttons. You can learn more in our guide to executive function in children under five.

3. Social and Emotional Differences

Social and emotional delays are easily missed in younger children as they may appear as ordinary child-like behavior. However, this can be little to no eye contract when engaging in play or even small chats. They may have limited interest in playing with other children or even choose to play by themselves all the time.

It can also look like intense tantrums that can be harder to soothe than an ordinary tantrum. They may also have difficulty adjusting to changes in their routines. For example, starting daycare, after being at home. To get a better sense of what's typical at different ages, this guide to social-emotional milestones in children is a helpful place to start.

4. Sensory Processing Differences

Sensory processing differences affect how your child’s brain and body respond to everyday sensations. This could be strong reactions, either avoiding or seeking out loud sounds, bright lights and clothing fabrics. Additionally they may seem to crave constant movement. This can be spinning, jumping or crashing into things

Many young children enjoy active play, so these behaviors alone aren't usually a cause for concern. However, if these sensory responses are frequent, intense, or interfere with everyday activities, it may be worth discussing them with your child's pediatrician. The STAR Institute for Sensory Processing notes that sensory processing differences can affect how children respond to touch, sound, movement, taste, and other sensory input.

5. Cognitive or Problem-Solving Delays

These signs relate to how a child thinks, focuses, and figures things out. They may have trouble following simple one-step directions, show a limited curiosity about toys or their surroundings. Or have difficulty with basic problem-solving expected for their age.

Since this area overlaps closely with focus and planning skills, it can help to understand more about executive function in children under five.

Signs at a Glance

Ages reflect general ranges from CDC and ASHA milestone data. Every child develops at their own pace.

When Is a Delay Worth Discussing?

It's always important to go with your instincts, so you are able to have a conversation with your pediatrician as soon as you see one sign. However, because not every sign is an immediate cause of concern, take a look at the table below.

Here we highlight the differences between normal variations in development and signs that may warrant a conversation with your child’s pediatrician.

What to Do If You're Concerned About Your Child's Development

If you’ve noticed one or more signs, the first step is not to panic. There are steps you can take that can give you the answers you need and your child the support they need. Start by:

See your pediatrician: Because your child’s pediatrician already knows their medical history, they should be your first point of contact. During an appointment you will be able to discuss your concerns and ask whether developmental screenings are needed.

Early Intervention Evaluation: If concerns continue. In many states, families can contact their local Early Intervention program directly to request an evaluation, although your pediatrician can also guide you through the process.

Early Support Can Make a Big Difference

As a parent all you want is for your child to thrive and knowing the 5 signs your child may benefit from early intervention allows you to help them do just that. While children do develop at their own pace, knowing what to look out for helps you stay prepared.