Early intervention programs for children

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Early intervention is a systematic program of therapy, exercises and activities designed to address developmental delays that may be experienced by children with Down syndrome or other disabilities. The law requires that states provide early intervention services for all children who qualify, with the goal of enhancing the development of infants and toddlers and helping families understand and meet the needs of their children. The most common early intervention services for babies with Down syndrome are physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy.

Early intervention should begin any time shortly after birth, and usually should continue until the child reaches age three. An amendment to IDEA in allows states to have early intervention programs that may continue until the child enters, or is eligible to enter, kindergarten.

Development is a continuous process that begins at conception and proceeds stage by stage in an orderly sequence. There are specific milestones in each of the four areas of development gross and fine motor abilities, language skills, social development and self-help skills that serve as prerequisites for the stages that follow. Because of specific challenges associated with Down syndrome, babies will likely experience delays in certain areas of development.

However, they will achieve all of the same milestones as other children, just on their own timetable. In monitoring the development of a child with Down syndrome, it is more useful to look at the sequence of milestones achieved, rather than the age at which the milestone is reached. Physical therapy focuses on motor development. For example, during the first three to four months of life, an infant is expected to gain head control and the ability to pull to a sitting positions with help with no head lags and enough strength in the upper torso to maintain an erect posture.

Appropriate physical therapy may assist a baby with Down syndrome, who may have low muscle tone, in achieving this milestone. Before birth and in the first months of life, physical development remains the underlying foundation for all future progress.

Babies learn through interaction with their environment. In order learn, therefore, an infant must have the ability to move freely and purposefully.