You know your child best. Don’t wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, act early – it can make a big difference. Here’s how to get help:
- Make an appointment with your child’s doctor, teacher, or another trusted provider. Tell them you want to talk about your child’s development.
- Share your child’s milestone checklist and any concerns, even if your child is meeting the milestones. Checklists can be helpful, but they don’t cover everything. Help your child’s doctor understand your concerns by sharing information from teachers and other providers, or giving examples like:
“I am worried about how he is speaking. He doesn’t say much all day, he stopped saying some words, and he hasn’t learned any new ones.”
- Ask about developmental screening. Screening is a way to get more information about a child’s development, usually by having a parent answer a list of questions about the child. It’s recommended for all children at different ages and any time there’s a concern. It can be done by doctors and others, like childcare providers or home visitors.
- If after screening there are still concerns, ask if your child needs to see a specialist AND ask for help getting connected to services to help support your child.
Important Tips:
- If you feel unsure or have more questions after your visit, it’s okay to continue talking with doctors, teachers, and other providers about your child’s development.
- If you have been given a referral or phone number to call about your child’s development, call right away. If you have trouble getting an appointment, let the doctor or person who gave you the referral know.
- If you have been told to “wait and see” but you feel uneasy about that advice, it’s okay to talk with another provider to get a second opinion or to call your state’s early intervention program.
You do not need a doctor’s referral to call your local program for a free evaluation to find out if your child can get free or low-cost services to help.
If your child is younger than age 3:
Contact Nevada’s Early Intervention Program at (800) 522-0066 and say:
“I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if he/she is eligible for early intervention services.”
If your child is age 3 or older:
Call the local public elementary school, ask to speak with the person in charge of special education, and say:
“I have concerns about my child’s development and would like to have my child evaluated through the school system for preschool special education services.”
If the person who answers is unfamiliar with preschool special education, ask to speak with the school or district’s special education director.
