Why is early intervention so important?
Early intervention is defined as services delivered to children from birth to age 3, and research shows that it has a dramatic impact on reducing the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Studies in early childhood development have shown that the youngest brains are the most flexible. In autism, we see that intensive early intervention yields a tremendous amount of progress in children by the time they enter kindergarten, often reducing the need for intensive supports. While it is important to begin interventions as soon as autism is suspected, there is always room for improvement in functioning no matter when appropriate interventions are begun.