Protocols for Early Audiology Intervention Services: Views from Early Intervention Practitioners in a Developing Country (Report‪)‬

Early intervention (EI) is used broadly to refer to intervention practices with children from birth to 3 years of age. (1,2) This paper will focus on EI in terms of early identification and management of children in this age group who display, or are at risk of, communication delay. (3) The fact that the first decade of life is the most crucial time for healthy development and maximum learning means that effective EI services should be provided at as young an age as possible. (4) The need for EI has been well documented and it has been recognised that the development of communication skills begins in infancy, long before the emergence of the first words. (5) Professionals also know that delays in identification of hearing impairment impact on a child's personal, social, academic and vocational growth, and comprehensive services to this population are therefore needed." Swanepoel et at. (10) state that EI has dramatic benefits.