Early Intervention

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a bio-neurological developmental disability that impacts the normal development of areas such as social interactions, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with Autism often have deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, daily living skills, social play and leisure activities, and restricted, repetitive behavior such as lining up toys, flapping hands, repetitive play actions and scenarios, eating certain foods consistently, etc.

(Autism fact sheet – national autism association 2023)

What is Early Intervention?

Early Intervention for autism is providing therapeutic services to a child with ASD such as ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy. Early intervention usually starts as early as 2 to 3 years old for a child with autism. Early intervention is very important at this age because the brain is still rapidly developing and uses techniques to address and support their unique ways of learning social and communication skills, daily living skills such as dressing themselves, brushing their teeth and using the bathroom, and eating independently, social and leisure play, gross and fine motor skills, and independence. The most commonly used form of early intervention is Applied Behavior Analysis therapy.

Behavioral Innovations (2024) Importance of early intervention for kids with autism, Behavioral Innovations. Available at: https://behavioral-innovations.com/blog/critical-early-intervention-children-autism-spectrum-disorder/ (Accessed: 07 July 2024).