Is Early Intervention Programs Effective for Children with Autism?

Is Early Intervention Programs Effective for Children with Autism?

Linda Peck

Palm Beach State College

December 3, 2011

Is Early Intervention Programs Effective for Children with Autism?

A Review of the Literature

Early intervention for children with autism has been a hot topic over the past two decades. Over the years, there have been many treatments that have evolved from different philosophies. Intervention is among those treatments that focus on improving social communication, challenging behaviors, treating commonly associated difficulties (e.g., eye gazing, non verbal and repetitive behavior), promoting independence and improving quality of life. Every child on the autism spectrum is different and has an individualized intervention treatment. Goals for treatment vary by child and typically include a combination of therapies. The type of treatment the child receives depends on their symptoms, which are different for each child and the goals of the child may change over time as the child changes and reaches their milestones. Because children with autism are so individualized in their symptoms, a treatment that helps one child may not help another. This literature review considers whether Early Intervention is an effective approach to improving the development for children with autism by responding to the following questions:

1. What are the important child factors that determine the effectiveness of specific treatment procedures?

2. What important family factors need to be considered?

3. What is the influence of ethnicity and cultural factors?

4. Which important treatment factors need to be considered?

Although, there is...