If you’re having  your child evaluated for early intervention services, you’ve already taken an important step. Many parents request an evaluation because they have noticed something concerning in their child’s development that they would like to better understand. Sometimes a pediatrician, childcare provider, or family member may also suggest an evaluation.

Early intervention evaluations are designed to help you better understand how your child is developing, identify both strengths and weaknesses, and determine whether your child can benefit from early intervention services. Knowing what to expect during an early intervention evaluation and how to prepare can help the process feel more comfortable for both you and your child.

Before the Early Intervention  Evaluation : How  to Prepare

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your child's upcoming early intervention evaluation:

• Review your state's Early Intervention  Family Rights document and any correspondence received from your service coordinator.

• Evaluations usually go more smoothly when children are well rested, fed, and  comfortable. If possible, try to schedule the evaluation at a time when your child is typically awake, alert, and in a good mood, rather than during their usual nap time or during a typical meal time.
  
  
• Because these evaluations are lengthy, you may need to make arrangements for other children who need to be picked up or dropped off somewhere, as evaluators will not be able to stay alone with your child if you need to run out.

• Share any helpful directions to your house or information on where to park. Understand that evaluators may be driving a distance or coming from another appointment, so they may be running a few minutes early or late.

• Many early intervention evaluation tools are administered through online platforms. Evaluators typically bring laptops or tablets and may need internet access during the session. They may use a mobile hot spot, but it can still be helpful to have your Wi-Fi password available in case they need to connect.
  
  
• Evaluators will bring materials to use during the assessment, but having some familiar items nearby can help your child feel more relaxed. You may want to have:
  • A favorite toy
  • A favorite book
  • A comfort item like a stuffed animal or blanket

• Gather medical information to share with the evaluator: 
  • Results of newborn vision and hearing screenings
  • Medical diagnoses or health concerns
  • Specialists your child has seen
  • Hospitalizations or surgeries

• If your child is beginning to talk, it can be very helpful to make a list of commonly used words. This might include:

  • Words they say clearly

  • Words they approximate (for example, “ba” for ball)

  • Animal sounds or environmental sounds

  • Signs or gestures they use 

During the Early Intervention  Evaluation: What to Expect

Typically, at least one parent is present to provide a report at the evaluation, but it’s helpful for additional close relations to offer insights also.  If there is a grandparent, childcare provider, or other caregiver who spends significant time with the child, it is beneficial to have them participate and provide information regarding skills or developmental concerns. Evaluations can also take place at a childcare center if private space is available.

Evaluators will spend time engaging your child in play-based activities to observe developmental skills. If your child tends to be slow to warm up, the evaluators may begin with the interview portion first, so your child has time to become comfortable before interacting directly with them.

You may notice that evaluators sometimes ask your child to do things that seem too advanced for  their age. This is normal. Standardized evaluation tools require evaluators to determine a “ceiling,” or the point at which a child can no longer complete tasks successfully. Because of this, evaluators may ask questions or present activities that are above your child’s developmental level. If your child cannot perform a task, even in an area that you were not concerned about, there is no need to worry. This is simply part of the testing process.

Early intervention evaluations are thorough and may take longer than parents expect, so starting the evaluation when your child is in a good mood can make a big difference. In most cases, it is helpful for your child to eat beforehand, so they are comfortable and not overly hungry.

However, if you have concerns about feeding, evaluators may be able to learn helpful information by observing your child during a meal or snack. If your child needs a snack, break, or moment to reset, that is completely fine. Evaluations are designed to be flexible so children can participate comfortably.

Even if you are requesting an evaluation because of one specific concern, early intervention evaluations look at multiple areas of development. This helps the evaluation team understand the whole child and how different developmental skills work together.

Areas Typically Evaluated to Determine Early Intervention Needs:

• Communication Skills: This includes both receptive language (what your child understands) and expressive language (how your child communicates using sounds, words, gestures, or signs).

• Cognitive Skills: These are thinking and learning skills such as problem solving, imitation, cause-and-effect understanding, and how your child explores their environment.

• Social-Emotional Skills: This area looks at how children interact with others, show emotions, respond to caregivers, and engage in social play.

• Adaptive or Self-Help Skills: These are everyday functional skills such as feeding, participating in daily routines, helping with dressing, and beginning independence.

• Motor Skills:

  • Gross motor skills include: sitting, crawling, walking, and climbing

  • Fine motor skills include: grasping toys, pointing, stacking, and manipulating small objects

Looking at all these areas helps the evaluation team determine your child’s developmental profile.

Questions You May Be Asked During Your Child's Early Intervention Evaluation:

Evaluators will ask questions about your child’s development, routines, and medical history. Parent input is very important because children do not always demonstrate every skill during an evaluation. Having this information readily available will help move things along during the evaluation.  You may also be asked about pregnancy and birth history and whether your child spent time in the NICU.

Evaluators may also ask about developmental milestones, such as when your child first sat, crawled, walked, babbled, or began using words. If you have medical reports or notes from specialists, those can also be helpful to share if you choose to do so.

What to Expect After Your Child's Early Intervention Evaluation:

At the end of the evaluation, the team will review the results with you. They will discuss:

• Your child’s strengths

• Any identified developmental delays

• Whether your child meets eligibility criteria for early intervention services

• Strategies you can try to advance your child’s development

If your child is eligible for early intervention services, the team will explain the next steps in the process. It is helpful to know your upcoming availability to plan the next set of meetings.

You know your child best, and your insights are a valuable part of the evaluation process. By sharing your observations and being prepared, you help the team get a more complete picture of your child’s strengths and needs.

For all our Sunny Days practitioners, Kathleen Flatley  offers online trainings on early childhood skill assessment and more. We hope you join us for a future webinar! 

For more tips on early childhood development, be sure to follow us on  Instagram,   Facebook,  LinkedIn, and X.  Please contact us if you have concerns regarding your infant or toddler's development milestones.