Early Intervention Services are special services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays. These services are designed to identify and meet children’s needs in five developmental areas. These are physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional development, sensory and adaptive development. Early intervention includes provision of services to such children and their families for the purpose of lessening the effects of the condition. Early Intervention Services are effective ways to address the needs of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.

Some children develop more slowly than the others or develop in ways that seem different from other children. Any deviation from the normal development should be dealt with at the earliest as it may lead to a developmental delay or the child  may be at risk of developing developmental delays.

                Developmental delay’ is a term that means an infant or child is developing slower than normal in one or more areas. The child may or may not perform the motor, social, cognitive or other activities like children of his age. A child is considered to be at risk when the child’s development may be delayed unless he or she receives early intervention services.
 The primary reasons for intervening early with exceptional children are :

• To enhance the child’s normal development.
• To provide support and assistance to the family.
• To maximize the child’s and family’s benefit to society.