\n\tBefore my first son turned 2, he stopped talking. My second son did not talk even after he turned 3. I mentioned this every time I took my children to their pediatrician. The doctor told me it was too early to be concerned.<\/p>\n
\n\tHe was wrong. Later, both children were diagnosed with autism.<\/p>\n
\n\tIt seems, more often than not, the first thing parents are told is to “wait and see.”<\/p>\n
\n\tDr. Juhi Pandey, a pediatric neuropsychologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has a better answer.<\/p>\n
\n\tParents are often told to “wait and see” when they raise concerns they can’t describe effectively. Also, “I have heard from practitioners that they do not want to raise unnecessary concern on behalf of parents when it could be that the behavior in question will get better on its own,” Dr. Pandey says.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tDelaware: <\/strong>Division of Public Health, Child Development Watch<\/a>.<\/strong> New Castle County, 800-671-0050, 302-283-7240; Kent and Sussex Counties, 800-752-9393, 302-424-7300. Early intervention program for children ages birth-3 with disabilities or developmental delays.<\/p>\n \n\t\tPennsylvania<\/strong>: CONNECT Helpline<\/a><\/strong>,<\/a> 800-692-7288. Assists families in locating resources and providing development information for children ages birth-5. Assists parents in making a direct link to their county early intervention program or local preschool early intervention program.<\/p>\n \n\t\tSouth Jersey: Southern New Jersey Regional Early Intervention Collaborative<\/a><\/strong> <\/a>(SNJREIC), 856-768-6747 (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties). Helps families to meet the developmental and health-related needs of children ages birth-three who have delays or disabilities by providing quality services and support to families and their children<\/p>\n \n\t\tArticle: EARLY INTERVENTION: <\/a><\/strong>The first step could be a giant leap for your child.<\/p>\n \n\t\tChild Development Program,<\/strong> <\/a>Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 215-590-7500<\/p>\n\n\t\tAdditional Resources<\/h4>\n