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Early Intervention experience?
Arianna starts at the end of this month. She is 2 months old, so I guess she will be closer to 3 months. She is doing well as far as we can tell but her nuerologist recommended it and I am more then willing to make sure she isnt behind or will fall behind. She is already eligible with her diagnosis, she has bi-lateral schizencephaly and septo-optic dysplasia. They will be seeing her every month.
Have you found that it really helps? I am wondering to what to expect, they said they will be here for about 3 hours, just makes me curious how much they can really do with a 3 month old.
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Re: Early Intervention experience?
We started much later, but I think in terms of how much it helps depends on your therapists. Ideally they will be able to get a good idea of how she's doing and give you age/developmentally appropriate activities to work on between visits. With coming once a month, you will be doing the majority of "work", but I did find it useful to know what comes next and ways to encourage it. With my FT (2nd) child, she seems to just DO things, with me 1st (preemie), we had to encourage almost everything.
3 hours seems ridiculous though - most 3 month olds aren't even awake for 3 hours, let alone able to cooperate with a therapist for that long.
I've had both my kids in EI from a very early age, with my ds, it made the process of getting him needed services beyond just the monthly home visits very quick and easy. With dd she no longer does OT through them but we're keeping her in until at least 18 months depending on whether she shows any red flags since my ds has ASD.
I do find the monthly visits helpful, they always have lots of handouts and suggestions and can let me know how dd is developing. And really, if it wasn't for EI pushing me to have my ds's speech evaluated at 18 months we wouldn't have got his ASD dx and therapy started as early as we did. Our monthly home visits are only 1 hr. I don't know what they would do for 3 hrs. When my ds has speech or OT or when dd had OT those were only 45 minute session. Even my ds's EI preschool class is only 2.5 hrs!
This will be long as we have experienced EI in 3 different states so I'll give you my opinions on each. Overall, EI has been marginal but only because I prefer more actual therapy then the more talking that has been done. BUT EI is for teaching the parents what to do so the child can get therapy when they (or other therapists) are not there. In that respect, EI has been really great!
Kansas EI: We were here the longest. DS1 was in it (don't remember age when he entered) for feeding issues. DS2 (currently 27mos) started at 4mos. I have DS1's SLP (EI) to thank for getting DS2 in. He was originally seen for torticollis but they kept coming even after that had subsided. At 9mos, they EI PT had me ask the pediatrician about a neurological issue. I was aware something wasn't right between 6-9mos because he had no desire to sit and his eyes would cross on occasion. Anyway, I have the EI PT to thank for truly getting the ball rolling on the eventual CP diagnosis we got. DS2 had PT, OT, and ST. Overall it was ok and DS2 improved but we were also doubling up and had private therapies going as well. I thought all the therapists were personable and very willing to show me things and answer questions. They were great to bounce things off of and to learn from.
Iowa EI: We were here the shortest. DH was deployed so I had moved back to my hometown so I had help. DS2 received EI (PT, OT, ST) and also private therapies. The EI PT here was my favorite and did more therapy then just talking and really went out of her way for us. I liked the others well enough but felt like DS2 improved the most in PT. I keep in touch with her from time to time.
Tennessee EI: We are here now and have been here for 4.5mos. I cannot double up on therapies here (so EI therapists and private therapists) so we are only doing EI here; however, they go through a company here that insurance pays for (I'm assuming that is how it is working). DS2 has PT, OT, ST, and feeding. His ST and feeding therapist are the same person and she is by far my favorite and he has improved greatly with her. PT and OT are ok but I feel like sometimes they let him lead a little too much versus actually working with him. Even though we see them through EI, I consider them to be private therapists. It must just be my style that I prefer DS2 to be "worked" more then he actually is. Again, all of the therapists are nice people and very personable and knowledgeable. I just feel they pussyfoot around DS2 and the potential for him to get upset when he doesn't want to do what they want him to do. I have told each therapist that he is there to work and that he is going to cry and I am ok with that and that I would only intervene if the crying was the uncontrollable sort. Even though they know I'm not going to rip my child away if he starts crying (as apparently some parents do), I still think they are too "soft" on him.
Overall, EI has been good and DS2 has improved overall with all 3 states. I will be a little sad when DS2 ages out in just under a year! I will say that I have learned a lot from EI and overall feel that they are a good resource.
ETA: Are they coming for 3hr at one time? If so, I would ask them to separate them out to at least 3 separate 1hr visits. 3hrs straight maybe not be possible or may be too much for a 3mos old.
When I read 3 hours, I assumed it was a one-time in-take and assessment appointment. Is that right?
We do EI along with private therapies. It's good to have more input, I think. The more people trained to help DS who can weigh in, the better. For example, our PT and the EI PT can collaborate and come up with ideas on equipment for him, etc. I can also get several educated opinions on an issue, too.
I think we started at 5 or 6 months. They will give you lots of ideas and tips on little things you can do to help your LO stay on track developmentally. You have to get used to having a bunch of people telling you how to raise your kid, and I am sure there are some EI people who are tactless, but ours have been pretty good. I just take it all as ideas I can use if they work for DS.
Yes this is her first appointment. I didnt know if it was this long all the time, but it sounds like its just the first appointment that its that lengthly.
As far as her being able to stay up, the last 2 days she will not nap and is up for about 10 hours straight. I hope this isnt perminant. I been trying everything I can think of.
Okay I was under the impression EI works with the OT and PT. But it sounds like they recommend them if needed?
Being a FTM I am not familiar with what and when babies start doing things so I'm sure that will be helpful for me. I am trying to be home during the day and work third shift so I can work with her, her grandma has been taking care of her but I feel better being home with her even if it means sacrificing some sleep.
It sounds like overall you've all had good experiences which makes me happy to hear. Thank you for your feedback
We started at 1 month old because DS's hypertonia was so severe.
It takes a LONG time. I barely saw any difference and it really was disheartening. However, once it started clicking he started to do all the things we worked on for so long. We worked so hard to get him to play while laying on his side. He just screamed and screamed and screamed. Then one day at about 11 months he laid and on his side and started playing with a toy.
So yes, I absolutely think it helps. Without being tought the proper way to do things they're just going to learn the easiest way, even if it's wrong or damaging. It helps keeps their hips in line, their muscles developing in the proper order. Also, we have an EXCELLENT PT who has been very proactive. She pushed us to get AFO's, a gait trainer, knee immobilizers and Botox. While I'm sure I would have figured a lot of it out for myself, a lot of what she has done is invaluable.
Typically the 3 block window given to you includes the actual assessment in addition to completing the paperwork and talking with you afterwards about recommendations of service. The time the baby will be "performing" can be as short as 20-30 minutes at that age. (Which I should add-- is usually sufficient. But if its not and they are good-- they will tell you that they need more information and try to get it at another time.)
I am biased as an EI PT, but I think you can make great strides in EI. I also think it is highly therapist dependent. So if you don't think you are "clicking" with your therapist, I would not hesitate to ask for another. Don't be afraid to do so. It happens more often than people like to admit. Just make sure you get the phone number and name of the director of the program to ask.
Good luck.
Amelie started EI when she was two months old. We met with a developmental therapist and a speech therapist once a month for one hour. I really love our therapists. I am a first time mom and they are both moms so they have given me lots of great advice. We now see the speech therapist once a week and she gives me "homework" each week. She comes up with fantastic things that DD loves and I never would have thought of on my own.
However, we also started physical therapy when DD was eight months old and I am thinking of dropping the service. She qualifies with a 25% delay in one of the four areas but I don't like the therapist and do not think she's helping. I think it's very important to have a good relationship with the therapist so be very careful when choosing one.