{"id":175338,"date":"2026-08-11T11:12:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T11:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/?p=175338"},"modified":"2026-08-11T11:46:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T11:46:51","slug":"hawaii-early-learning-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/blog\/hawaii-early-learning-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP): Domains, versions, and scoring"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Key takeaways<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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The Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) is a criterion-referenced, family-centered developmental assessment for children from birth to 6 years.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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HELP evaluates six developmental domains: cognitive, language, gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, and self-help skills.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Two versions exist: HELP 0-3 (birth to 36 months) and HELP 3-6 (ages 3 to 6), each with its own kit components.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Scoring is criterion-referenced, rating each skill as pass, emerging, not yet, or atypical rather than as a percentile.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Pabau’s digital forms and automated workflows help early intervention teams document HELP-based goals, track progress, and streamline IFSP reporting.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

The Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) is a criterion-referenced developmental assessment for children from birth to age 6. Rather than comparing children to a normative peer group, it rates skills against developmental milestones. As a result, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and early intervention specialists use it across the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because HELP items describe observable behaviors, findings translate straight into IFSP and IEP goals. In fact, that is the practical reason teams keep choosing it over norm-referenced instruments for planning work. Specifically, this guide covers the six domains, both versions, administration, scoring, and the documentation load that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HELP is a criterion-referenced developmental assessment for children from birth to 6 years. Originally, it was created by VORT Corporation, whose HELP titles were acquired by Shine Early Learning<\/a> in 2023. Today, Shine is the publisher and distributor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The assessment covers six developmental domains. Instead of standardized norm comparisons, clinicians gather evidence through observation, structured play activity, and caregiver interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criterion-referenced means HELP measures a child’s skills against developmental milestones, not against a peer group. Therefore, it suits early intervention, where the job is pinpointing which skills need support and planning for them. In other words, ranking a child against population averages is not the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HELP is not a diagnostic instrument. Instead, results inform intervention planning and goal-setting. Additionally, eligibility decisions under IDEA Part C<\/a> need evaluation data beyond HELP scores alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family-centered design is central to how HELP works. For example, caregivers take part directly through observation reports and structured interviews. As a result, clinicians get a fuller picture of everyday functioning than a single clinic session can provide. Overall, it reflects best practice for engaging families in therapy<\/a> and other early intervention services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HELP 0-3 and HELP 3-6: Which version to use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HELP comes in two versions covering different age ranges. Accordingly, each has its own kit components, strand books, and activity guides matched to that age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Age range at a glance<\/p>\n

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HELP 0-3<\/div>\n
HELP 3-6<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Birth–36 months<\/div>\n
3–6 years<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n3<\/span>\n4<\/span>\n5–6<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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HELP 0-3<\/div>\n
Primary setting<\/div>\n
Early intervention (IDEA Part C), NICU follow-up, home visiting<\/div>\n
Key components<\/div>\n
Strands assessment, activity guide, family-centered interview forms<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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HELP 3-6<\/div>\n
Primary setting<\/div>\n
Preschool special education (IDEA Part B), pre-K inclusion programs<\/div>\n
Key components<\/div>\n
Strands assessment, activity guide, parent questionnaire<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Both versions assess the same six developmental domains — only the age-specific milestones and forms differ.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

HELP 0-3 is the version most often referenced in early intervention literature. In fact, most published psychometric research on the instrument is based on it. Meanwhile, HELP 3-6 extends coverage into the preschool years and supports transition planning from Part C to Part B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both versions cover the same six domains. However, the specific milestones and observable behaviors differ substantially between age groups. For a child sitting right at the boundary between versions, administering both is sometimes appropriate, depending on clinical judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six developmental domains HELP assesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HELP evaluates six developmental domains. Each covers a distinct area of child development, and together they form a comprehensive functional profile. Specifically, the table below summarizes what each one assesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Domain<\/th>\nWhat it assesses<\/th>\nExample milestones<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Cognitive<\/td>\nProblem-solving, object permanence, cause-and-effect reasoning, imitation<\/td>\nSearches for hidden objects. Sorts by color or shape.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language<\/td>\nReceptive and expressive communication, vocabulary, sentence structure<\/td>\nResponds to name. Combines two words. Follows two-step directions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gross motor<\/td>\nLarge muscle movement, balance, coordination, posture<\/td>\nRolls over. Walks independently. Climbs stairs alternating feet.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fine motor<\/td>\nHand and finger skills, grasp patterns, visual-motor coordination<\/td>\nPincer grasp. Scribbles. Copies a circle.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Social-emotional<\/td>\nAttachment, peer interaction, emotional regulation, play skills<\/td>\nSocial smile. Parallel play. Expresses multiple emotions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Self-help<\/td>\nFeeding, dressing, toileting, and other activities of daily living<\/td>\nFinger feeds. Pulls off shoes. Washes hands with help.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n

The multi-domain structure is what makes HELP useful across disciplines. For instance, a speech-language pathologist works mainly in the language domain. Meanwhile, an occupational therapist<\/a> covers fine motor and self-help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, a physical therapist takes the gross motor findings and may add a motor assessment scale<\/a> for detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because all three clinicians use the same instrument and record, HELP builds one shared developmental picture. For a family dealing with autism and speech delay<\/a>, for example, that view is often their first look at strengths and challenges together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that case, teams often follow a weak social-emotional strand with social-emotional learning activities<\/a> a caregiver can run at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is the HELP assessment administered?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HELP is administered by observing the child during play and everyday routines, not in formal testing conditions. As a result, this lowers the anxiety that structured testing can produce in very young children. For this age group, it also produces more accurate results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n