Early intervention is a term that means starting therapeutic interventions as soon as possible. For autism, early intervention means specialised support for young children.
Key Takeaways
The aim of early intervention is to promote the development of the child, helping them learn the skills that they need
Children benefit immensely from Early Intervention
There are specific things to look for in a service provider
Early intervention is used in all sorts of disabilities and illnesses. For autism, early intervention means specialised support for young children. Its aim is to promote the development of the child, helping them learn the skills that they need.
Early intervention for autism should start as soon as possible. For some children this might mean starting at 12 months old, for others it might be five years old. The main thing is to get started as soon as issues with development are noticed. A diagnosis is not required for early intervention support.
An early intervention program for a child with autism starts with a thorough assessment of the individual needs, strengths, interests of the child and any developmental delays. Then a highly individualised program is created. This may include therapies to support areas identified as important and meaningful to the child and family, with goals often around supporting social communication, emotional regulation, and motor skills. The developmental milestones which the child has not met are those that are prioritised.
The idea is to help a child to develop and learn as much as he or she is able to. Some children need less and less support as they grow older, others still have high support needs. The goal of early intervention is to support each child to develop to their full potential.
You may have started to research early intervention options before your child is diagnosed. Or the diagnosis may come as a surprise and you need to start from scratch. Parents are keen to get started as soon as possible, and this is quite right.
There will, however, always be some waiting periods, and delays. This can be very frustrating, however, there are things that you can get started in the meantime.
Whilst early intervention is crucial, remember that your child will develop throughout their lives. The brain remains plastic for life and we are all able to keep learning as we age.
Why does my child need it?
The brain begins developing soon after conception and continues developing into the adult years. Early childhood is a time of rapid change, particularly for the development of a child’s brain. During the first few years of life, millions of neural connections are formed every second. These are the “bricks, mortar and wiring” of the brain and provide the foundation for life-long health, wellbeing, learning and behaviour.
All families deserve to receive the supports they need to help their children reach their full potential. This is the core feature of early intervention and will look different for every child and family.
Supporting emotional regulation is an important piece of early intervention for most families. Understanding what's underneath the distress and dysregulation and understanding how to support your child through these periods allows for the child to experience co-regulation. These experiences can then support your child to be ready for engagement and learning. Understanding the reasons for distress is the first step to helping your child.
Difficulties with communication are a core feature of autism and can cause immense frustration for the child. One of the most important elements of early intervention is to start effective communication between child, family and carers. This can ease the daily life of the entire family with great benefits for both mental and physical health.
How much early intervention is needed?
Children who receive effective early intervention improve their outcomes throughout life. With autism spectrum disorder this means not only receiving the right type of individualised therapies designed but also the right amount. With autism, speaking very generally, the more intervention the better.
How early is too early?
There is no ‘too early’. Some siblings of children on the spectrum start early intervention with their families as soon as they are born, with an emphasis on social interaction. Early intervention for communication and speech can start before a baby is one year old.
Early intervention is often play-based and typical children are playing a great deal of the time. So there is no need for concern that a child is being forced to sit still and learn unnaturally when they are very young.
