Better early than late

News: Early intervention programme that prevents disabling conditions in newborn children, is better than one that tries to mitigate the effects once disability has set in.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives others and socialises with them, causing problems in social interaction and communication. It also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behaviour.

The term ‘spectrum’ in Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to the range of symptoms and severity.

What is early intervention?

The set of services towards identification, assessment and a multipronged therapeutic approach to disabling conditions in the 0-3 age group is referred to as early intervention.

While physical disabilities are evident from birth, intellectual disabilities take time to manifest. Autism Spectrum Disorder leads the list.

Why early intervention is more effective?

Early intervention programmes take advantage of neural plasticity or the ability of the brain to mould itself to stimuli.

The greatest changes as a result of intervention are observed in the ages 0-3. This is not to say that programmes beyond this age are not effective, but they take more effort and time.

What are the challenges to early intervention?

The three big challenges to early intervention are:

– parental ignorance

– An unwillingness to accept facts

– Social stigma attached to seeking specialised services.

What is the way forward?

The child should be assessed by a team comprising an occupational therapist, special educator, speech therapist and physiotherapist. A plan of action should be put in place. Communication within the team is of critical importance in helping the child. The child should receive a combination of therapy and special education for one to two hours every day.

Parents need to be educated on home plans and in dealing with the condition and behaviour of the child. Sometimes, the extended family also needs to be counselled on how to provide the right environment to nurture the child.

Children who have been part of early intervention programmes show remarkable progress, and the process of their integration with the mainstream is faster.

Source: This post is based on the article “Better early than late” published in The Hindu on 4th April 22.