Early Intervention

Quick facts about early intervention

Research has shown that early intervention and early diagnosis of autism is more likely to have long-term positive effects. An autism diagnosis can sometimes happen in children as early as before age two but some children who seem typical up to that point of age 2 start to regress and show more signs and symptoms of autism.

Early intervention occurs at or before preschool age which is age 2 and 3. Early intervention gives children of that age the best start possible to make the most progress and developing to their full potential for their age. Recent guidelines suggest starting developmental and behavioral intervention as soon as autism is diagnosed or suspected.

The goals for early intervention programs is to help children with ASD gain the basic skills that they usually learn before age 2 such as physical skills, thinking skills, communication skills, social skills, and communication skills.

Each State has its own guidelines and early intervention programs for birth to age 2 children who are diagnosed with developmental delays or disabilities.

These programs are identified by Part C in the Public Law 108-77 which can be found at: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statuteregulations/

Early intervention for autism (no date) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments/early-intervention (Accessed: 07 July 2024).