What to expect from EI evaluation?

[Amy]

I hope this is the right place to come for advice...I don't have a preemie, but I do have a delayed walker. Emily will be 16 months old on Sunday, and has only been cruising since her 15 month birthday. She will not stand while holding our hands, much less attempt to take any steps. Her pediatrician is referring us to Indiana's EI program called First Steps, and I'm expecting a call tomorrow to set up the evaluation appt. I do know there's no charge for this, and they'll come to our house for the evaluation and all therapy appts....I just don't know what to expect!

Emily was a late crawler...10 months and a week, so I'm really not too surprised that she's also late walking. Her fine motor skills are excellent...it's just gross motor that seems delayed. In every aspect of her development except walking, she is ahead of the curve...am I overreacting to worry? She cruises all the time, and loves standing. She'll stand with only one hand resting lightly on a wall, the table, my leg...whatever she can use for balance. Occasionally, she'll let go, and she's OK until she realizes she let go, and then she falls. I'm beginning to think she's avoiding walking because she's afraid of falling, but then I wonder if I'm giving her too much credit for thinking that much about it!

ACK!!! :needhug:

[Jillian]

We've enver been to an EI evaluation, but we have had Janelle evaluated by a developmental pediatrician which from what I understand is quite similar. Anyway, the basically made her play. At her last one (15 months, her next and hopefully last is at 24 months) she played with blocks, climbed on toys, coloured, did shape sorters, puzzles...they focused a lot on hand eye cordination, fine motor skills, and the upper body with her since that is where she was behind in her other evaluations...it's a long process about a 3 hour appt with about 5 people. Janelle loves it since she gets to play with a lot of stuff we don't have and has a LOT of attention while doing it. I kind of like it actually, it's nice to get the run down of where your child is developmentally (like 9-12 months for hand eye co-ordination, 24+ months for verbal, 18-24 months for gross motor...etc.).

But, I have to say that from what my ped says and what everything I've read says, 16 months is still in the norm for walking. Anywhere from 9 months till 18 months is normal, before 9 months is early and past 18 months is late! :bighug: Ohh and my mom "tricked" me into walking at my first birthday party by my grandpa replacing his fingers with clothespins when I noticed I no longer had his fingers I fell and never walked again (not even holding hands) untill 18 months, so I definitely think it is possible to not walk out of fear of falling.

[Brooke]

We had Rebekah evaluated for speech delay when she was 20 months old. It really is just a play session. They asked her to do puzzles, play with a doll house, sit in a chair, draw lines and circles, and copy what the evaluater was doing.

It was painless and the EI people were very nice. They'll probably get Emily to cruise, climb, and crawl on stuff. Plus maybe so some things to test her upper and lower body strength, things like that.

They'll evaluate her based on what is average for her age. They'll probably tell you right then what they think she needs and what you should do. We were told that Rebekah was 20 months old but only speaking at a 14 month level. They wanted us to wait until her 2nd birthday and see where she was then before starting any therapy. Turns out she started talking at 23 months and she didn't need any help at all.

If they decide that Emily needs a little help, they'll schedule all of it and probably come to your house for the sessions. I have only heard good things from people who used EI programs so I'd expect Emily to really improve with their help. Sometimes they just need a little push in the right direction.

Also, they made sure that we knew that none of this would go in her permanant school records. (DH was worried about that)

:hug1: Don't worry. They know what they are doing. And it's not a bad thing to need a little help. Emily will catch up in no time.

[kim]

i had tony evaluated for speech delay at 17m. it seems like they're just playing but it's actually a test :) i cannot for the life of me think of the name of it right now :scratch:

we had a great experience with e.i.!

[Dawn]

Ditto to what mostly everyone else said concerning what to expect from an EI evaluation.

They evaluate them in everyway while they are playing (fine motor, etc.) and moving around (gross motor). Lots of questions will be asked as well like when she started doing this and that.

Alexia underwent EI evaluations for her gross motor skills as she was very behind as well. I started becoming concerned when she was 9 mos. old and she started receiving physical therapy through a children's specialized hospital when she was a little over a year. She also received EI services at the house as well. At that time she wouldn't even bear ANY weight down on her legs when held in an upright position (at a year old). Anyway, with all the therapy she had received both at the hospital and at our home, it helped her immensely (sp?)!!! She had started to walk at 16 1/2 mos!!!! Like Emily, my Alexia wasn't a preemie at all but was very much behind in all aspects of gross motor skills. She started sitting up on her own at about 9 1/2 mos. and didn't pull to stand until she was 14 mos.

So, although your daughter is considered a 'late walker', it certainly isn't out of the norm. Therapy will certainly help her and by evaluating her, they will ascertain if 1) therapy is even needed (here in NJ to receive EI services they have to be 33% or more behind) 2) how much therapy she will need. I think some kids just need a little jump start on things....as I know Alexia did.

Alexia also received EI evaluations for Occupational therapy as well, and underwent therapy for that too. But that was for other issues...I just wanted to let you know that I've been there too, and not to worry. I actually loved the evaluations cuz it gave you a clear gaining knowledge of exactly where your child stands. If you have any questions whatsoever about anything, please feel free to post or Pm me! :wavey:

Don't worry, it's when you least expect it that they will take their first steps in walking on their own! :bighug:

[Dennis]

Joe's been in EI since he was about 5 months old and it's been great. He wasn't that far behind but we've received all kinds of great services for free :) He's still doing music therapy - he doesn't really need it but he loves it so much so we are milking it for all it's worth.

We have his next evaluation on Tuesday so we'll see what they say, but we're hoping they let us keep it going until he's 3, which is when the EI ends.

Dennis

[palmgal]

Ashlyn is a year and she just started crawling a month or so ago, and still is army crawling. She just started pulling up, and has made no effort to cruise yet. We have been attending PT since she was 9.5 months old. It is not technically EI, as we (well her insurance) covers it. I am mixed on the PT, although she really has made improvements since we started going. It is hard though watching other kiddies her age take off and walk. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
-Courtney

[Sparrowbug]

:bighug: Ditto to what everyone else said. EI is a wonderful program, and we're sad to go into the regular school district now.

Wendy

[Amy]

Thank you so much to everyone for sharing your stories!! Last Thursday the intake coordinator came out to take down a developmental history and progress evaluation, covering all kinds of physical, occupational and speech milestones. Basically, it looks like Emily is at or above the norm for everything except walking! Even then, she's still within the 'normal' range. Funnily enough, that very morning, she started walking while holding our hands!! :woo: Little stinker! The full PT evaluation is next Tuesday, June 9....unless they determine that she is 20% or more delayed, we won't qualify for therapy, and I'm honestly going to be amazed if we do. I think she's just on her own timeline! Every day now she wants to walk around while holding our hands, and is very proud of herself when she does it....I'm sure by the end of June she'll be running at top speed.

[Dawn]

Oh Amy...that is just wonderful! :) See, what our lil' ones gotta do to us and put us through? :lol: I also will be very surprised if they find her out to be 20% or more delayed. I betcha she'll do fine and there will be no reason to even remotely consider her going for PT! The way it sounds, she's on her way to walking on her own real soon!!!! :walking: Watch out! :)

[Dennis]

That's great Amy!

[SophiasMommy]

HI Amy

I just wanted to let you know that First Steps is fabulous!!!! Sophia has been in the first steps program for 3 months now! She only gets OT, but will be re evaluated for speech and pt! As far as the evaluation it's a piece of cake! They will come in and basically "play" with Emily.

By the way, Indiana's First Steps program is THE best in the country!! I'm so glad we have it!

Keep us updated and if you have any questions feel free to pm me!