A Common Developmental Concern: Communication
Communication
Communication is a broad developmental area for a young child that includes a child’s understanding of language (receptive language skills) and a child’s ability to express feelings, thoughts and ideas, (expressive language skills). These skills change and grow as your child grows.
As an infant, attempts to communicate may look like turning towards sounds or using eye gazing and cooing to get attention. As a child gets older, these skills change and can include, turning to their name being called and following simple directions as well as using eye gaze, pointing, reaching, word approximations, (due for shoe) and words to communicate. At Early Intervention Services, we work with infants and young children up to three years old to address concerns with both receptive and expressive communication.
Concerns about a child’s communication development is one of the most common developmental challenges that we provide services for throughout the Greater Lawrence and Greater Lowell communities serving Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, and North Andover and in Greater Lowell serving children and families in Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford.
My baby is not reacting to her name.
My child is not talking.
My child was talking and now has regressed.
My child is difficult to understand.
There may be a wide variety of reasons why your infant or toddler is not communicating. Our Early Intervention Services are designed to meet you where you and your child are and to learn more and to develop a plan to assist in helping your child meet his or her communication developmental milestones. We work with children whose older siblings may be communicating for them or where a medical diagnosis such as being tongue-tied or lip-tied may be affecting the ability to communicate.
There are many reasons why a child may not be communicating and we are available to first understand your concerns and then develop strategies to help.
As a parent or caregiver, you can contact us directly to request a no cost evaluation. A medical referral is not necessary.
Getting Started is as Easy as 1, 2, 3
Our Approach
At Early Intervention Services, our services start with a free evaluation which is an opportunity for our multi-disciplinary team to meet with you and your child to listen and learn more about your specific concerns. Our team will conduct a broad evaluation of your child in five areas as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The areas include adaptive skills (e.g., self-care skills such as feeding and sleeping), personal/social, communication including expressive and receptive, motor skills including gross and fine motor skills, and finally, play skills.
With respect to communication skills, our team will ask questions specific to the age of the child such as if the infant passed the newborn screening that included testing hearing.
If your child is found to be eligible for EI services, our team will work with your family to develop an individualized service plan based on your concerns and priorities.
Our approach centers on a coaching model that is family focused. Our staff offers ideas and suggestions that can be incorporated into a family’s daily routine, accommodating each family’s values and culture. For example, a physical therapist may suggest that every time you change the child’s diaper you try a particular exercise or put the child on their belly. Our services are flexible and adaptive to each family’s unique situation.
Some general communication developmental milestones include:
Around the age of one, a child should be responding to simple phrases like “Look at Mommy!” and using a word to express what they want.
Two-year-olds are starting to follow two-step directions such as “Put your plate on the table” and are using two words to request things and express what they want.
My daughter was delayed talking and walking and they did an awesome job with her. The Early Intervention Services team was so supportive and understanding…We are forever grateful.
-Aya, mom
Experienced and Dedicated Professionals
Language Pathologists
Occupational Therapists
Music Therapists
Early Intervention Services offers highly-skilled, experienced professionals who initially meet with you and your child to learn more about what is going on to assess the child. All professionals are dedicated and committed to working with young children.
Our professionals include a wide range of disciplines and specialists to assist with communication concerns including developmental specialists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, and music therapists.
We also have professionals on staff who are trained in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and in neuro-affirming approaches to treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Below are links to additional Early Intervention Services articles and videos related to Communication.
Impact Stories
Early Intervention Services have been phenomenal for our child and it has been amazing to see how much his language has improved in the span of a year… Our specialist has also been wonderful and supportive. It is nice to develop a close relationship with our specialist and to count on them as an additional resource. We highly recommend taking advantage of this service if your child needs it!
People with severe autism, especially when they’re very little, they present as angry because they’re scared. The world does not make sense to them, and we have no way to communicate in a way that they can understand. Through Early Intervention Services, we learned that Declan wasn’t broken, this is just how his brain worked.
Getting Started is as Easy as 1-2-3
Learn more about our services.
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Nurturing the growth and development of children, infants up to age three.
