Dear Hindustan Times,
Thank you for sharing information on the importance of early detection and early intervention for young children with an autism spectrum disorder. We agree with you wholeheartedly that intervention at an early age is critical. We also agree that wider understanding and acceptance of autism is needed, for wider understanding and acceptance may lead to earlier detection and access to appropriate services for the family and child. However, it is important to note that acceptance itself is not an effective intervention for autism.
Virtually all effective interventions for young children with autism share common features: the intervention begins early (as soon as a diagnosis is suspected or confirmed), the intervention is intensive (20+ hours per week), the intervention focuses on teaching functional and developmentally sequenced skills, and skills selected for intervention are based on the results of a comprehensive developmental assessment. While parents play an important role in intervention, research suggests that the most dramatic improvements for the child with autism occur when parents work in partnership with skilled treatment professionals (such as Board Certified Behavior Analysts). Parent training is an important component of early intervention, and should not be overlooked. However, we must also be cautious not to confuse day-to-day parenting with effective intervention.
There is also no evidence at present to suggest that children who are given more exposure to screen time are prone to develop autism-like symptoms, which reverse on stopping the use of such devices. For more information on what causes autism, we encourage you to direct your readers to the website of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment , which provides up-to-date, scientifically sound information about autism and its treatment.
Sincerely,
Laura Shay, M.Ed BCBA SLPA
Erin Leif, PhD, BCBA-D
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
