Using IGDI's to make Decisions about Progress

Infant and Toddler IGDIs are designed to measure individual growth and development. Additionally, however, they are designed to work within a comprehensive decision-making model for evaluating early intervention results and changing intervention as needed. The decision-making model is based on the concept of "continuous progress monitoring" wherein decisions about early intervention are based on observed levels of developmental progress displayed by individual children. IGDI's supply the tools for monitoring progress over time, whereas the decision-making model provides the steps and questions needing to be answered about obtaining progress.

IGDI Progress Monitoring: Individuals and Programs

We recommend establishing a monitoring system where all children are assessed every 3 months. We further recommend that these occur for each child linked to their chronological birthday, so that all children are measured at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36 months of age, like the pediatrician's height and weight charts. Measuring all children at these common age points provides a standard frame for tracking individual progress and aggregating data of all children at these age points. From these data, you can track the individual progress of all children in your program at reasonable cost and use of resources.

As illustrated in the Figure, the decision- making model is a cycle of monitoring, deciding about observed progress, validating need for intervention, and implementing or adjusting an early intervention until progress is made.

Decision-Making Model

A decision-making model is used that combines frequent IGDI monitoring with a decision process. A key decision is whether or not satisfactory progress is being made or not. If progress is satisfactory, we continue the present intervention and program and continue monitoring. If progress is not satisfactory, we need to explore possible solutions, implement these solutions, and evaluate their effect on the child's future progress.

Deciding whether or not progress meets expectation is a matter of comparing individual children's mean level and rate of grow (slope) of progress to growth norms.

If the decision is that progress meets expectation, we are pleased, continue with the present course of intervention procedures, and continue to monitor quarterly.

If the decision is that progress does not meet expectation, we begin a search for alterative intervention solutions, implement a solution that appears potentially effective and that meets family approval, increase the frequency of monitoring from quarterly to monthly, and thereafter, evaluate solution effects on accelerating growth.

If the solution proves effective, we continue it as needed and drop back to monitoring quarterly.

If the solution is not effective we select, implement, and evaluate another solution, continuing monthly monitoring for effectiveness.

Here is a summary of guidelines to follow: