Study: Autism Therapy For Diagnosed Toddlers Effective

November 30, 2009 10:15 a.m. EST

West Palm Beach, FL (AHN) - A recent study shows for the first time that if a child is diagnosed with autism as early as 18 months, participating in the correct age-appropriate effective therapy can help raise IQ levels as well as improve language skills and behavior.

According to Geralding Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, early intervention can prove to be very effective. Dawson is one of the lead authors of the study which was released in the journal Pediatrics on Monday.

In 2007, pediatricians were required to start screening for autism in 18-month-old children. But it was unclear as to what the next step should be if a child was diagnosed with the disorder. But Dawson said now they do have intervention methods for toddlers diagnosed with autism. Dawson and co-study author of the study Sally Rogers, University of California-Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, developed the trial involving 48 children with autism. Dawson was attending the University of Washington at the time.

At the time, all the children participating in the study were between 18 months and 2 ½ years of age. Half the children were put into therapies, while the other half participated in a 20-hour a week intervention program called "Early Start Denver Model" (ESDM). The program was derived by Rogers.

The goal was to see how much the effects of the debilitating disorder could be prevented or lowered. EDSM was designed specifically for toddlers with autism as young as 1 year old. It focuses more on the need of the child, with activities more pleasing and stimulating to their senses, as opposed to more adult-directed treatment or sessions. The therapy is carried out by trained professionals and parents in a natural environment, including the child's home. It is a contrast to traditional Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), which is delivered at a desk.

At the end of the two-year study, all the children showed improvements, but the ones enrolled in EDSM had IQ points 10 points higher than those in standard autism therapy groups. The children in the EDSM group had higher scores in other areas as well including listening and understanding, motor skills and self-care skills.

Rogers said the therapy methods can be taught to parents within six hours. Then parents can utilize their training in everyday settings.

Dawson and Rogers also noted that children in the EDSM group only needed 15 hours with a therapist a week, as opposed to the usual 40 hours. This can cut down significantly on expenses when taking care of an individual with the disorder. The estimated lifelong cost of caring for someone with autism is $3 million.

Autism is a disorder of neural development that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. Signs develop before a child is three years old. Autism involves many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not well understood. There is no known cure for autism.