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pediatric-development

How to Request an Early Intervention Evaluation for Your Child

You can request a free developmental evaluation yourself — no referral or diagnosis needed. Under age 3, call your state early-intervention (Part C) program; age 3+, contact your school district. Describe your concerns in writing, and they arrange a no-cost evaluation.

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Dr. Marcus Hollings, MD — Pediatrician

Developmental screening, ruling out medical causes such as hearing loss, and coordinating referrals into early-intervention and school evaluation systems. Gale can match you with a licensed clinician for a visit.

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Who to contact, based on your child's age

There are two free pathways. For a child under 3, your state's early-intervention program (often called 'Part C' or 'Birth to Three') handles evaluations and services. For a child age 3 or older, your local public-school district's special-education office takes over. Your pediatrician can point you to the right program, but you do not have to go through a doctor — families can self-refer to either system. Public-facing pediatric guidance encourages caregivers to act early and reach out as soon as they have a concern rather than wait 1.

How to make the request

Call or email the program and say you'd like to request a developmental evaluation because you have concerns about your child's development. Putting it in writing (even a short email) is wise — it creates a dated record, which can matter for the timelines the program must follow. Include your child's name and date of birth, your contact information, and a few specific examples of what worries you (for instance, 'at 30 months he uses about ten words and doesn't combine them'). A standardized screening from your pediatrician can strengthen the request, since screening is the recommended first step in routine care 2.

What the evaluation looks like

A team will assess your child across developmental areas — communication, motor skills, problem-solving, social-emotional, and self-help — using standardized tools and observation, usually in a comfortable setting like your home or a clinic. You're an active participant: you'll share your child's history and your concerns, and your everyday observations count as real data. If a delay is found, the evaluation leads to an individualized plan (an IFSP under early intervention, or an IEP through the schools) describing services such as speech, occupational, or developmental therapy.

Cost, timelines, and your rights

Evaluations through early intervention and the public schools are provided at no cost to families 1. These programs operate under federal law with required timelines (early-intervention evaluations are generally completed within 45 days of referral; school timelines vary by state). If you disagree with the result, you have the right to ask questions, request a re-evaluation, or seek an independent evaluation. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

When a clinician helps

While you can self-refer, your pediatrician strengthens the process. A clinician can perform a validated developmental screening that documents the concern in objective terms and supports your request 2, and can rule out medical causes — like a hearing problem — that an educational evaluation won't catch 3. If a specific delay is likely, the clinician can also refer you directly to a speech-language pathologist or developmental specialist for evidence-based therapy and help coordinate services between the medical and educational systems. Looping your pediatrician in keeps the medical and developmental pictures aligned.

Common questions

Do I need a doctor's referral to get an evaluation?

No. Families can refer their own child directly to early intervention (under 3) or the school district (age 3+). A doctor's referral or screening can help support the request, but it isn't required to start the process.

What if my child 'ages out' of early intervention at 3?

Around the third birthday, early-intervention programs help families transition to the public-school system, which becomes responsible for evaluation and services. Start the conversation a few months before age 3 so there's no gap in support.

Will an evaluation give my child a diagnosis?

An early-intervention or school evaluation measures whether your child qualifies for services based on developmental delays — it isn't the same as a medical diagnosis. If a medical diagnosis is needed, your pediatrician or a specialist handles that separately.

Talk to a clinician

Dr. Marcus Hollings, MD — Pediatrician

Developmental screening, ruling out medical causes such as hearing loss, and coordinating referrals into early-intervention and school evaluation systems. Gale can match you with a licensed clinician for a visit.

Find care →

When to reach out sooner

  • —Your child has lost skills they previously had
  • —You're worried about your child's hearing or vision
  • —Significant delays across several areas, not just one
  • —You feel the program is delaying or dismissing your request

This article is educational information, not medical or legal advice. Program names, timelines, and procedures vary by state. Contact your state's early-intervention program or school district for specifics.

References

  1. 1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2024). CDC's Developmental Milestones — Learn the Signs. Act Early.. CDC (cdc.gov). link ✓Parent-facing CDC guidance to act early and talk to a provider; free milestone resources for families.
  2. 2.Lipkin PH, Macias MM; AAP Council on Children with Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (2020). Promoting Optimal Development: Identifying Infants and Young Children With Developmental Disorders Through Developmental Surveillance and Screening. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3449 ✓AAP recommends standardized developmental screening as part of routine well-child care.
  3. 3.Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; AAP Council on Children with Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (2020). Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-3447 ✓AAP recommends evaluation, including medical work-up, once developmental concerns are identified.

3 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice — synthetic demonstration content.