What Is Early Intervention for Autism? A Parent-Friendly Guide

Early intervention is a specific form of therapy for very young children (usually two or three years old) who either have or are suspected to have autism. The program utilizes the child’s neuroplasticity (which you’ll learn about in the next section) to improve or develop various skills that those with autism may struggle with. 

Learn more about early intervention for autism and how it can be a great source of support for you and your child. 

Why Is Early Intervention Important for Children with Autism?

The reason early intervention is important for children with autism has to do with children’s neuroplasticity, which is basically a medical term for the ability to learn and develop habits. Since young brains are more moldable, it is easier to teach an autistic child various skills. 

As people get older, their brains lose flexibility. For example, think about bad habits you can’t seem to break. They are harder to break because they are ingrained in your brain. 

All of this to say that early intervention helps manage or minimize different autistic symptoms. Early intervention doesn’t cure autism; it helps children develop the skills and coping mechanisms to live an independent life. 

However, it’s important to say that autistic interventions can work with older children and even adults. It may take longer compared to young children.

How Early Can You Detect Autism, and How Do I Know My Child Needs Early Intervention?

It can be difficult to know whether or not your young child is showing signs of autism because each child develops on their own timeline. It’s best to speak with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.

Common potential signs of autism in children are

• Being behind the “typical” developmental milestones schedule
• Struggles with expressions or eye contact
• Not speaking much
• Doesn’t like playing with other kids
• Has limited interests or seems to hyperfocus on one interest
• Doesn’t like changes in environment or schedule
• Struggles with understanding others

What Skills Can Early Intervention Help Improve?

Early intervention has been shown to help with 

• Communication skills
• Emotion regulation skills
• Social skills
• Focus skills
• Problem solving
• Listening skills
• Adaption skills
• Physical coordination skills
• Daily living skills
• Motor skills
• Parent education and advocacy support 

What Types of Early Intervention Therapies Support Children with Autism?

Early intervention for autism uses a combination of different therapy approaches. The best providers customize their early intervention plans to your child’s needs. 

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy can help with various speech skills, such as:

• Saying/showing what they want/need: Improves their ability to express themselves and reduces frustration in conversations.
• Nonverbal communication: Includes sign language, hand gestures, or pointing to different images or objects.
• Processing what is being said to them: Includes both verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Building relationships: Practicing interacting with others while using all the skills they learned. 

ABA Therapy

Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABA) focuses on building various developmental skills. It often focuses on all types of skills, from communication to daily living. It also teaches coping mechanisms to reduce maladaptive behaviors.

Play-Based Learning

This is a therapy technique that teaches children through their natural environment and learning method—playing. This can be used to improve social skills, build up daily routines, coordination, and other various skills. 

Social Skill Training

This type of therapy focuses on developing the skills needed to navigate different social situations. It can do this through:

• Role playing: Act out various situations to develop social skills and learn step by step. 
• Videos: Some children learn better by watching situations play out. They can then start to mimic the videos to build up their skills. 
• Stories: Professionals teach children through stories that highlight appropriate behavior and explain why it’s correct. It can also help prepare children for new environments or situations. 
• Group practice: This is supervised activities with multiple people, so the child can practice the skills they’ve developed. 

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a natural therapy treatment that retrains certain aspects of the brain so children can learn new habits. It does this by showing them how their body reacts to stimuli. A child can then deliberately slow down their breathing and heart rate to relax. 

It can help with autism by addressing various symptoms/side effects, such as:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Anger
• Insomnia
• Regulating emotions
• Tolerating changes
• Improving focus

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy focuses on skill development for those with autism. This can range from daily life tasks to focus to emotional regulation. 

The nature of the therapy often sees it intersect with other therapies on this list and may even occur at the same time. 

Typical skills focused on include:

• Eating
• Playing
• Talking
• Getting dressed
• Working in a school setting
• Personal hygiene
• Emotion regulation
• Focus 
• Fine motor coordination
• Sharing with friends

Family Therapy

Family therapy is helpful not only for a child with autism but also for their family members. It provides support for caregivers who might feel overwhelmed or burned out. It can also help siblings process their feelings as they grow to understand their autistic sibling. 

Family therapy can ease tensions between family members, which will provide a more supportive environment for your autistic child as they learn and grow. 

How Do Professionals Decide Which Services Your Child Needs?

Professionals decide which autistic services your child needs by performing an assessment at the beginning of their care. They will ask you, your child, or both about their behavior, communication abilities, and social skills. 

Some assessments include watching the child in their natural environment to fully understand how the child acts. 

Professionals will then compare the answers to the various screening tools available, such as:

• Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
• The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
• Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
• Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)

Once the assessment has been completed, professionals use what they learned and their experience to create a custom plan for your child. This plan should also be flexible enough to change as your child grows and their needs change. 

What to Look for in Early Intervention Providers

Your autism early intervention provider is a crucial part of your child’s development, so you want to feel confident in your choice. 

Here’s a quick list of qualities any professional provider should have:

• Empathy: Any early intervention provider should have an empathic and compassionate team, so you know they have your child’s best interests in mind at all times. 
• Experience working with children: Working with autistic children is very different from working with adults, and your provider should have previous experience. 
• A holistic, evidence-based approach: They should use any and all established treatment methods needed to help your child—not just their diagnosis. A holistic approach should also consider the child’s family and ensure there is always a supportive environment. 
• Custom care plans: No autistic child is the same as any other, so treatment plans need to be tailored to their needs. 
• Consistent check-ins: As the treatment starts, a high-quality early intervention provider will want to meet with you to discuss progress and potential changes that will need to be made. 
• Open to family involvement: Providers should be open to parents or siblings joining sessions if it will help your child.
• A team player: Depending on your child’s needs, your early intervention provider may need to work with other health providers. They need to be collaborative and communicative enough to ensure your child gets the care they need.  

How Can Parents Support Early Intervention at Home?

Parents can help support early intervention between sessions at home through various actions to maintain progress. 

While we list general ideas, make sure to talk to your provider about how to support your child’s progress at home. They will likely have specific ideas and techniques for you to use.

Encourage Independent Actions

You can incorporate different aspects of early intervention in your child’s life by encouraging independence, even through small acts. You could try to focus on brushing their teeth, sitting in a chair for a few minutes, or getting dressed themselves. 

You can do this together, such as sitting at the table together and doing a fun activity together, or practicing brushing together.

Teach through Play with Your Child

You’ll notice that your provider will play with your child in very specific ways, which you can then mimic at home. Playtime could include sorting things by color, using picture cards to communicate, and having your child identify objects. 

Doing this will cement what they’re learning in a fun, engaging way. 

Practice Regulating Emotions

Emotional regulation is always difficult for children, so offering them an opportunity to do so in a safe environment is crucial. This can include trying to maintain eye contact, exposing them to small changes, or encouraging them to express how they feel in that moment. 

Your provider can show you different ways to do this without causing too much distress. 

Break Down Tasks into Small Steps

As your child learns and practices different tasks, remember to have extra patience and break these tasks into smaller steps. Even the simplest tasks can take a while to master. 

Your child may not finish the task completely, but every time they complete a new step is a positive sign of progress. 

Celebrate All Wins

Early intervention is a long process, so it’s essential to celebrate all the wins along the way. It doesn’t matter how small.

Your excitement and encouragement will also motivate your child. 

Early Intervention at Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic: What Makes Our Approach Different?

Abbey Neuropsychology’s autism early intervention focuses on the child holistically. We consider their communication, social, physical, emotional, and sensory needs and build a plan around that. 

Our compassionate team is ready to use many different approaches to ensure your child gets the care they need:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Play- and art-based therapy
• Family therapy
• Parent coaching
• Biofeedback
• Neurofeedback
• Neurovisual training
• Cogmed Working Memory Training®
• Learning through movement

Our care plans focus on what your child is already strong at to enhance those skills while developing new ones, which can help ease your child’s frustration as they develop new skills. We always keep parents in the loop and encourage participation in sessions. 

We want your child to grow into a happy, confident adult, just like you. 

Learn more about our autism services. 

Early Intervention Can Help Your Child’s Development

If you think early intervention is in your child’s best interest, don’t hesitate to reach out to providers. Talk to them and your pediatrician about why you think your child would benefit from it. 

Once you find a provider you trust, you can work with them as a partner to ensure your child’s development is not only positive but that they thrive. 

If you’re in the Palo Alto area, Abbey Neuropsychology can be that partner.