What is the Early Childhood Intervention?
Early Childhood Intervention is the process of providing evidence-based interventions to support a child’s learning during the early stages of life. A simple way of explaining what Early Childhood Intervention aims to do is to identify very early on, any deficits in milestones (both cognitive and behavioural) which share the same trajectory as some neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Brain development is prevalent in early childhood and is a period of a child’s life that sees a rapid rate of learning and development. Future development is the result of the foundation based on the child’s learning during the early years of life, and it is therefore crucial that any interventions take place as early as possible in a child’s development.
Does intervention mean my child has ASD?
Not all children referred for Early Childhood Intervention have, or will end up with a diagnosis of ASD. Very often the diagnosis of developmental disorders are delayed to allow time for the child to ‘catch up’, but the monitoring of progress needs to be done closely. Skills are constantly being developed throughout a child’s life and early intervention provides an opportunity to foster and improve these skills, potentially reducing supports that may be required later in their life. If the child requires additional support during this time, it is important to be able to access this early. Early intervention can influence the trajectory of the child’s development though specialised a discipline-specific therapies.
Early intervention may significantly modify the trajectory of a child’s developmental journey.
What does Early Childhood Intervention involve?
Parents and carers that understand the child the most, have a powerful influence in the child’s future development and will continue to be involved in supporting them. Shrink & Co. will work collaboratively with families to provide the ability to prioritise and have choice in interventions that will best support the child to be successful in everyday situations.
The team at the Shrink & Co. have a wealth of knowledge and experience across multiple settings including educational, disability and clinical settings. We are able to provide a turnkey service in diagnosis, management, treatment and access to required supports such as NDIS.
If you have concerns about your child’s cognitive or behaviour development, please contact us and we may be able to assist.
Early intervention provided by Shrink & Co. aims to encourage, boost and support everyday learning by slowly building on learning opportunities that are already occurring at home, childcare centres, Pre-school and in the community.
Shrink & Co. works with the adult that has the closest relationship and interacts most with the child, to up-skill them in the interventions being provided to the child that occur during activities and schedules that occur in daily living.
To learn more about NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Program please visit the NDIS website here.