early intervention
Acting before worsening
Early intervention refers to services and support provided to young children with developmental delays or disabilities, typically before age three.
The approach rests on evidence that addressing problems early produces better outcomes than waiting: Early intervention helped him catch up to his peers by kindergarten.
The term extends beyond child development to any prompt action meant to prevent a problem from worsening—in mental health, addiction treatment, or disease management.
- speech therapyTreatment for communication disorders
- first wordsInfant's earliest speech
- special educationAdapted instruction for disabilities
- red flagsIndicators something's wrong
- preventive medicineHealthcare before illness strikes
screening tool · occupational therapy · tummy time · developmental disorders · developmental milestones · neuroplasticity · window of opportunity · learning disabilities · milestones · pediatric care · child development · mental health screening · developmental delay · parent training · attachment theory · critical period · motor skills · referral
- child developmentbaby, toddler, newborn, infancy, milestones
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
- mental wellnessmental health support, self-care, mental wellness, emotional wellness, coping skills
- pediatricspediatrician, pediatricians, pediatrics, pediatric care, well-child visit
- Education ServicesIEP, teacher training, 504 plan, school improvement, accommodations
- Social Programswelfare office, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, TANF, family allowances
early interventioncrisis intervention
Help during acute emergencies
damage control · too little too late · remediation · deferred action · crisis management
early interventionwait-and-see
Deferring judgment pending developments
crisis response · watchful waiting · firefighting · damage limitation · emergency response
early interventionneglect
Failure to provide care
inaction · nonintervention · non-intervention · willful blindness · benign neglect