Tips:
by Kim R
- Contact your State’s Early Intervention Program as soon as you bring your baby home from the NICU. These programs offer physical, occupational, and speech therapists (who can help with feeding problems) at little to no cost to you (depending on your ability to pay). These therapists will come to your home to treat your child, so you do not have to take your child out of the home for these appointments.
- Early intervention will provide therapy services to your child until your child is old enough to access therapy services (for free) through your county school system.
- Determine what therapy services your insurance company will cover and how long they are covered for. Most insurance companies limit therapy services, although you may be able to file for an extension of benefits due to medical necessity, particularly in cases involving congenital/birth defects. This extension of benefits is not widely advertised, and you may have to call the insurance company a few times to find someone who knows (or will admit) this is even an option. Check with your insurance company as soon as possible and ask for any information they provide in writing.
- Consider your child’s therapy needs when shopping for an insurance policy. Also, depending on your child’s underlying medical condition(s), you might consider applying for SSI Disability and Medicaid to help cover your child’s therapy expenses.
- Be aware that waiting lists can be quite long for physical, occupational, and speech therapists, particularly for those who accept insurance. Put your child on a waiting list as soon as you can. Be aware that it could be a year or longer before your child ever gets in to see the therapist.
- Do not substitute Early Intervention services with therapy services covered by insurance. Use them both.
- Ask your pediatrician, OB doctor or other parents for the names of therapists they would personally recommend. Sometimes your pediatrician can get you further up on the waiting list than you can on your own.
- Ask your therapists for “homework” so you can work on low tone, oral, fine, and gross motor delays in between appointments. Be aware that while low tone and motor delays may not be the most pressing medical issue facing your child, they can have serious and long term implications. For example, your baby’s inability to suck on a bottle can delay her ability to eat, and eventually her ability to speak. The earlier you obtain treatment for these problems the better.
- Find ways to make therapy homework fun for both of you. There is no reason why it can’t also be play time for you and your child.
- As difficult as it may be, try not to measure your child’s progress based on the developmental milestones established for healthy children. Rest assured that your child will make progress in his own time and based on his own ability.
- Depending on your child’s health issues and limitations, you might want to consider enrolling her in a children’s gym, gymnastics, or dance class to improve balance, coordination, and core strength. You can start at a very young age with “mommy and me” classes, which are offered by the county or local recreation centers.
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- Learn about the book that inspired this site, and help your little one to know they are not alone!
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