Can Early Intervention Cure Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism can affect children differently. Children diagnosed with autism have varying strengths, challenges, and characteristics.
There’s no known cure for ASD but using a multidisciplinary approach can help improve a child’s social and communication skills.
Experts also agree that early intervention can help children participate fully in their communities sooner. This is why early diagnosis is crucial.
Autism can be diagnosed by observing a child’s behavior. If you feel that your child isn’t hitting developmental milestones, speak with your pediatrician.
Finding out about your child’s condition early on will also help you take necessary actions to support their specific needs. It’s normal to feel clueless and overwhelmed at the start. Seeking advice from experts will help point you in the right direction.
Enrolling Your Child to Autism Early Intervention Programmes in Singapore
There are several types of treatment for autism cases. You can focus on behavior and communication, dietary choices, or medications.
It’s common to see parents seeking behavior and communication approaches for their children, but again, the right treatment depends on your child’s needs.
Consider looking for a trusted early intervention school as soon as possible. Several centres in Singapore offer early intervention programme to assist children with developmental delays.
The staff goes through rigorous training to ensure that students are provided with quality interventions. They help children develop daily skills so they’ll learn to function independently, achieve social success, and enjoy good life quality.
If your child needs speech therapy, check if the speech therapists are certified by the Allied Health Professions Council. Overall, programmes should always be individualised to cater to the varying needs of the students.
Treatment Approaches for Children with Autism
One common autism therapy approach is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). It helps children to forge positive behaviors as they learn new skills.
One type of ABA treatment approach is the Discrete Trial Training or DTT. Here, children go through a series of trials to achieve a desired behavior or response.
The lessons are designed to be simple. Children are also rewarded for their correct responses and behavior, and aren’t called out or punished for their mistakes. Positive reinforcement matters most.
Another treatment approach used in early intervention programmes is the Activity-Based Intervention or ABI.
Here, teachers work with children to help them develop functional skills. Activities – whether planned, initiated by the children, or spontaneous – always come with goals and objectives.
Children are encouraged to interact with their environment to boost social skills, all while recognising the importance of play for learning. Activities can include mealtimes, dressing, simple cooking, and even selecting toys.
Supporting Children with Autism
Aside from seeking autism early intervention programmes in Singapore, it’s crucial to make children feel that they’re safe and loved.
It also helps a lot to coordinate with doctors and teachers to know how you can continue to practice at home what children are learning during sessions.
And since discoveries about autism and treatment options are fast-evolving, it also pays to stay updated. Learn from the experts and make it a habit to browse through credible resources online regularly.