Early Intervention is a program designed to provide services to students from birth to age 5. If you are concerned about a young child’s development in the areas of walking, talking, hearing, seeing, or learning, please contact the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit.
There are several general "warning signs" of possible delay. These include:
Behavioral Warning Signs
Does not pay attention or stay focused on an activity for as long a time as other children of the same age
Focuses on unusual objects for long periods of time; enjoys this more than interacting with others
Avoids or rarely makes eye contact with others
Gets unusually frustrated when trying to do simple tasks that most children of the same age can do
Shows aggressive behaviors and acting out and appears to be very stubborn compared with other children
Displays violent behaviors on a daily basis
Stares into space, rocks body, or talks to self more often than other children of the same age
Does not seek love and approval from a caregiver or parent
Gross Motor Warning Signs
Has stiff arms and/or legs
Has a floppy or limp body posture compared to other children of the same age
Uses one side of body more than the other
Has a very clumsy manner compared with other children of the same age
Vision Warning Signs
Seems to have difficulty following objects or people with eyes
Rubs eyes frequently
Turns, tilts or holds head in a strained or unusual position when trying to look at an object
Seems to have difficulty finding or picking up small objects dropped on the floor (after the age of 12 months)
Has difficulty focusing or making eye contact
Closes one eye when trying to look at distant objects
Eyes appear to be crossed or turned
Brings objects too close to eyes to see
One or both eyes appear abnormal in size or coloring
Hearing Warning Signs
Talks in a very loud or very soft voice
Seems to have difficulty responding when called from across the room, even when it is for something interesting
Turns body so that the same ear is always turned toward sound
Has difficulty understanding what has been said or following directions after turning 3 years of age
Doesn't startle at loud noise
Ears appear small or deformed
Fails to develop sounds or words that would be age appropriate
