Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A study released by the University of Washington has shown that an intensive intervention program designed for toddlers with Autism, called the “Early Start Denver Model” can actually improve their IQ, language and social skills. Some of the children involved in the study were even able to attend regular preschool classes. Participants in the study were provided with intensive therapy in all areas of development by trained professionals who worked with the kids one-on-one for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. The program also included training the parents so that they can reinforce lessons throughout the day.
The study only included children between eighteen and thirty months, but according to its designers, the program is suitable for children up to five years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be screened for Autism starting at eighteen months, even though the age of first diagnosis for Autism spectrum disorders is closer to three or four years. The late diagnosis is attributed to a widespread lack of proper screening tools. The goal of the new program is to identify children much earlier so that they can intervene in the child’s brain development as early as possible.
The study’s authors will be publishing a step-by-step manual for their technique very soon. It will be complemented with web-based training materials. Find out more about this groundbreaking Autism study at Working Intensely Early on May Help Autistic Kids.