Early Intervention Programme

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If you’re concerned your young child may have a developmental delay or learning and attention issues, you may be curious about the Early Intervention Program. Early Intervention can help infants and toddlers make big strides. SLC also believes that Early Intervention is the key to a fully functional child.

What is the Early Intervention Program (EIP)?

Early Intervention is another word for ‘start early’. It addresses children who are ‘at risk’ of not reaching or maintaining their milestones between birth to 3 years old. The EIP is an essential program as it provides appropriate therapy to the child between birth to 3 years - ‘the golden age for development’, as this is the period when the child can grow and learn at a fast pace.

The EIP also focuses on empowering families who are "the primary caretakers" with home therapy skills. These skills help the child to obtain the neccessary age appropriate physical, language, social, emotional and cognitive skills.

History

Who can join the Early Intervention Program (EIP)?

Early intervention is catered for children from birth to age 3. You may be a parent seeking for help or have received a referral by a pediatrician, child developmental doctor, neuro-pediatrician or clinical psychologist. To join this program, your child must have experienced either:


1. A developmental delay—be far behind other kids his age.
2. A specific health condition that will probably lead to a delay—this includes genetic disorders, birth defects, hearing loss etc

If you have concerns about your baby or toddler, you can contact SLC to know more about the Early Intervention Program or whether your child qualifies to join the EIP program.

Who & What are the roles of the professionals involved in the EIP?

The team of professionals that will be involved with your child are:


Speech and Language Therapist

Speech and Language Therapist perform assessments supported by the milestone checklist and develop the early intervention program for your child. This program is reviewed on a monthly basis.

Physio Therapist

Physio Therapist perform assessments supported by the milestone checklist and develop the early intervention program. This program is reviewd on a monthly basis.

Nutritionist

Nutritionist perform tests to understand which food items cause allergy to the child hindering the childs growth and causing neagtive reactions. The nurtitionist will then recommend diet most suitable for the child. Referral to the nuritionist will depend on observations and the need of the child.

Audiologist and Ophthalmologist for vision and hearing test

An audiologist and opthamologist performs test to check hearing and vision of the child. This is essential to identify wheather there is a vision or hearing loss in the child which is preventing his/ her growth. Referral to the audiologist and opthamologist will depend on observations and the need of the child.

How does the Early Intervention Program (EIP) work?

EIP works on collaboration between the therapist and the family of the child, focussing on reaching the child's appropriate milestones in the shortest time possible.

After assessment, the parent and child are scheduled to meet once in a month with one therapist. A home program with activities is given to the parents. They are also taught on how to perform these activities at home. A checklist along with a communication book is given to keep track on the childs progress on a daily basis at home. In the monthly meetings there is an ongoing assessment to check the progress of the child.

This program works best with the active involvement of the parent or primary caregiver.

Why are parents or primary caregiver an important part of the EIP program?

Early Intervention Program caters to age 0-3 years. The toddlers at this age undergo seperation anxiety and take time to adjust to new environments and individuals. When parents and caregivers are around, less time is wasted and more is learnt.
Therapy at school is only for an hour while the child spends most of their time at home. If regular practice is done at home (twice a day) the results of the intervention program will be faster and better.
Involvement of the parent or the primary caregiver in the whole process increases the parent child bond. This bond increases and improves the child’s response and enhances parents knowledge about the childs abilities.

What areas does Early Intervention Program focuses on?

The early intervention program focuses on the following areas:

Physical skills (reaching, crawling, walking, drawing, building)
Cognitive skills (thinking, learning, solving problems)
Communication skills (talking, listening, understanding others)
Self-help or adaptive skills (eating, dressing)
Social or emotional skills (playing, interacting with others)
Sensory processing skills (handling textures, tastes, sounds, smells)

What if my child is already 3 years and above?

If your child is already 3 years and above and have not got any help, you can contact us.

Once your child is 3 years and above, the clinical psycologist and the other team will perform various assesments to identify the readiness of your child to enroll in SLC’s school services or attend therapy services first, which is 1:1. You will always be informed regarding your child’s progress and what programs would suit him/her best to support his/her growth to the best.

KEY TAKE AWAYS

Don’t hesistate to seek help or contact us if your child is way behind the other kids.
Parents or primary caretakers role is the most important and the key to your childs success in this program.
You will meet once a month with the therapist and therapy is done at home by family on a regular basis.
If you wish to know more or donate for the underprevileged families to enter the Early Intervention Program, please click here