The Importance of Early Intervention for Children with Autism

A child’s early years are often considered the most vital. Aptly called the formative years, this period is when the child learns most basic cognitive and mobile functions such as speech, comprehension and physical coordination. Early parent or guardian intervention during this time is essential, and even more so for kids who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), for the following reasons:

- With early intervention, nonverbal children at age 4 can learn to use two-word phrases.

- High-quality early interventions make enough impact that some children with ASDs no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism.

- Delays can have significant impact on development and can lead to years of further unnecessary training.

- Early intervention has proven effective. Various early intervention options are available such as:

• The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) — This uses applied behavioral science techniques for early intervention with toddlers.
• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) — Behavioral psychology and training techniques are used to teach skills and behaviors.
• High-quality Parent-Mediated Interventions — These have been shown to positively modify behavioral patterns for children with ASDs.

The Right Program

The quality of the teaching program is an important consideration for early intervention. Just as essential, however, is picking the right program, since different children have different needs. High-quality programs, though proven effective, may not always yield the same results if they do not suit your child.