The Importance Of Early Intervention

intervention programs

It's every parent's worst nightmare to find out that your child has been born with a disability. Feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, isolation and helplessness often surround new parents who don't know where to go or who to turn to. Early intervention services are designed to quell the anxiety by providing resources and solutions to help you and your baby grow. With an early intervention, the child will foster with a large support structure and will have the best chance at normal development through specially-focused programs, while you get the emotional support you need to make it through the first few difficult years.

There are three main reasons to consider an early intervention program. First, early intervention services enhance child development. Intervention research suggests that the rate of human learning and development is most rapid in the first five years of life. Early skill development is crucial to laying the groundwork for lifelong education. Secondly, these interventions assist parents and siblings, helping them deal with feelings of stress or helplessness, while learning to maintain a positive attitude.

Families of handicapped children are found to have increased instances of divorce, suicide and domestic abuse, experts say, so an early intercession is critical to managing emotions from the onset. Lastly, early intervention services will increase the child's developmental and educational gains, increasing his or her eligibility for future employment and self-sufficiency.

Some parents wonder, "Can I afford an early intervention? What are the costs associated with care?" In most cases, early intervention programs are state-funded and are provided to parents and children free of charge initially. Some schools also offer special education services free of charge. There are different options to accommodate parents of all income brackets, so don't let cost deter you. In one intervention study, Wood (1981) calculated the total cumulative costs from infancy to age 18 of special education services, starting interventions at different ages: birth, 2 and 6. She found that total costs were lower if treatment began at birth! The total cost spent on intervention services was $37,273 if initiated at birth, compared to $46,816, if begun at age 6. In some cases, children who went through an intervention did not require any more special services at all.

In an early intervention, the child's condition is assessed, the family dynamic is examined, teacher behaviors and activities are studied and suggestions are made to facilitate maximum learning. Child progress data from clinical assessments are then woven in with the child's instruction to be sure the needs of the child are met. In some cases, children will go to a special school, whereas in other cases, teachers can accommodate various teaching styles into their lesson plans. Support plays a huge role in the successful development of the child, so the more parents and teachers can get involved, the better!