Early Intervention in Autism
Early intervention refers to interventions started in the first years of life — ideally before age 3 or 4 — for children with autism or at risk of autism. The premise is that neuroplasticity is greatest in the early years, making interventions more effective during this window.
The early interventions with the strongest evidence include: the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Floortime, parent-mediated interventions, and early speech therapy focused on functional communication. Ideal intensity is debated — very intensive interventions (40+ hours a week of therapy) can be stressful and aren't necessarily more effective than moderate, higher-quality interventions.
Important: early intervention should aim at the child's well-being and functioning — communication, autonomy, quality of life — not at achieving a neurotypical appearance.
💡 Practical example
At 18 months, Lara's parents noticed she had stopped babbling and wasn't responding to her name. Diagnosed with autism at age 2, she started speech therapy, occupational therapy, and a home-based ESDM early-intervention program with her parents for 2 hours a day. By age 5, she has functional verbal communication and is included in mainstream school.
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