Is Early Intervention Effective?
This question is asked by many parents, and professionals. Early Intervention research has been intensive for over 50 years. Based on both quantitative and qualitative research, early intervention increases both educational and developmental gains in children. It has also been shown to improve family functioning, and increases the childs ability to be of benefit to society. In many cases early intervention has such a great impact on the development of a child that by school age the child is indistinguishable from the nonhandicapped child, demonstrates less of a need for special education and has fewer retentions. There have been other research studies to indicate higher achievement scores on reading, math and language achievements test at all grade levels, less high school dropouts and less delinquent behaviors. (Berrueta-Clement, Schweinhart, Barnett, Epstein, Weikart, 1984).
