I had a question about early intervention 0-3.In Montgomery county PA the theripist come out to our house. Emily is starting with an OT on Monday.
I just wondered if anyone started this early (ten weeks)and thought it was beneficial for your child.
I Guess what I am trying to ask is what are your pros and cons of early intervention?
Thanks!

Hello

We had our son Rhys in the program when he was about 6-8 weeks old. I liked it because it made me feel like I was the right path with him.He was my third child but I still had doubts about if I was doing the proper things. The other benefit was that I didn't feel so alone.We went to a place that was open one morning a month for all the families with DS kids so you also met other families too. I would strongly recommend it. I think it really helps.Both physically and emotionally.

Hope this helps.
Astrid

I would definitely start OT now. The therapist will be able to help you in so many ways. She/He may have lots of ideas that you may never have thought of. They can show you simple ways to encourage her development. Max started OT at about 10 weeks or so and they worked on muscle tone and strength plus ways to encourage him to track toys when we moved them. The earlier you start the better, I think.
Jenny

Hi,

my son is year old and I strongly recommend early intervention right away. I was sort of confused in the beginning kinda wondering what my baby could do other than nurse , coo and pee and poop and cry !!!!they showed my all kinds of different things . like the last lady said like traking toys back and forth and helping them with the things I never had to think of with my other two. Like helping them roll over and grab things and even if it is just getting to know another person that is nice too. I have become friends with the teacher that comes twice a week and stays for an hour. sometimes I now use the opportunity to take a 15 min shower, While she does the therapy !!!!! Lisa

We have something called babynet that follows your ds child until he's 3 years old. We have someone (Ms. Faith) from babynet come every two weeks (which is soooooo convenient). The first visit was at around the 4 or 5 week mark. One thing I insisted on was that one person do all the visits so that there would be consistency in analysis of his needs.

So far he hasn't needed any other therapists involved with his care. But Ms. Faith is watching and will let us know if any therapy would be appropriate along the way. I think it's good to have one person "outside the bubble" keep an eye on Henry. Henry is our only child and I wouldn't know if and when he would be lagging in skill sets as compared to others at his same age.

And she has come up with several ideas to help along his progress that I would not have come up with myself.

And she has been a great resource. Early in Jan (when we thought Henry's surgery was going to be in Feb), she put us in a face-to-face meeting with another family whose ds child went thru heart surgery 3 years ago. It was a very beneficial meeting.

The only drawback. She sees him for an hour every two weeks, so she can't really know where he really is in his development. One time he was actually getting ready to nap when she came. So he was pretty tired. She mentioned that his fine motor skills were lagging (dagger in my heart). But 2 weeks later, she saw him right after a nap, when he was energized. Then she said that there was nothing wrong with his fine motor skills. We could have her come more often, but frankly time won't allow it (and unless she was around Henry all day, she still may not see everything he does daily). So I just have an open mind.

So a watchful eye is ultimately better, but the "having to do tricks on cue" is not fun. And I'm exaggerating, but you know what I mean.

I would highly recommend EI, the sooner the better. That being said, keep in mind two things (well, maybe 3) that I have learned.

First, you know your child better that anyone. There have been times when Cameron just gets exhausted with all the work. And therapy IS work. Sometimes, we have needed to take a break for a week, just to give him a break. This has always benefitted him the next week. He has PT twice a week, ST once a week, and OT once a week.

Second, EI is in place to teach you as a parent how to work with your child. If a parent is unable to keep the progress up throughout the week, then a half hour once a week will be useless. It takes time, and money to keep this up at home. You will begin to look at everything differently. ALL toys will be judged on their therapeutic value!

Third, and most important, YOU are the parent, and you have the control. EI tends to put our kids into a box and label them, then tell you what they need. YOU must be the loudest advocate for what you think is right. I can't tell you how many times I have been told that when it comes to the "system", the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". NEVER SETTLE! If you think your child needs more that he or she is getting- you have the right to these services.

Please don't think that I am slamming the EI program. But understand it for what it is, a help, not a cure all.
Sometimes I feel that I will know all the "ins and outs", so to speak, just when Cameron turns 3.

Also, Cameron is one of those kids who does much better going TO therapy rather than in home. We have the choice and have done both.

Just my opinion.

Casting my yes vote for all of the above reasons.

Hi Amy,

All I can say as a Mom of a 13month old is that there are no cons to early intervention!!! You're doing the right thing. How lucky are we that our children are born today and have this available to them. I count my blessings all the time.

Libby

Thanks for your input!
The OT came on Mon. and everything went really well. She started by asking me what my concerns are and what I want to see happen for Emily. I spoke up and told her what I thought and we set a plan to meet one hour once a week. I wish I would of know about this with my older son we did not find out he had problems with his fine motor skills and thathe had mid tone hearing loss(they did not test newborns when he was born-wish they would have!)until he was in pre-first. So I am familiar with all the support at school age level.
Its nice to know everyone's expierences to learn what to look for with Emily!
Thanks again!