The Golden Window – Early Intervention for Autism and ADHD.

Autism and ADHD are prevalent conditions in India, affecting millions of children and their families. A systematic review done by Anil Chauhan et al. 2019, showed that the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in India in children aged 1-18 years from rural population was 0.11% and in children aged 1-15 years from urban population was 0.09%. Another study conducted in different parts of India suggested a prevalence of ADHD between 2% to as high as 17%2. In other studies the rough numbers are about 23 million children on the Autism Spectrum and about 10 million children diagnosed with ADHD every year. 

Early intervention is a crucial

Early intervention is a crucial step in helping children with Autism and ADHD achieve their full potential. Research shows that early diagnosis of and interventions for autism are more likely to have major long-term positive effects on symptoms and later skills. Early intervention programs often include family training, speech therapy, hearing impairment services, physical therapy, and nutrition services.

Early interventions occur at or before preschool age, as early as 2 or 3 years of age. In this period, a young child’s brain is still forming, meaning it is more “plastic” or changeable than at older ages. Because of this plasticity, treatments have a better chance of being effective in the longer term. Early interventions not only give children the best start possible but also the best chance of developing to their full potential. The sooner a child gets help, the greater the chance for learning and progress.

Great Recovery is possible

In fact, recent guidelines suggest starting an integrated developmental and behavioral intervention as soon as ASD is diagnosed or seriously suspected. With early intervention, some children with autism make so much progress that they are no longer on the autism spectrum when they are older. Many of the children who later go off the spectrum have some things in common: Diagnosis and treatment at younger ages, a higher intelligence quotient (IQ) than average for a child with autism, and better language and motor skills.

At Neuro Revolution International, we are committed to bringing cutting-edge technology to early intervention. Our world-class Early Intervention Center provides internationally acclaimed services for children with special needs. Our team of experts uses the latest research and techniques to help children achieve their full potential.

In conclusion, early intervention is the greatest way of bringing life-lasting positive changes in children impacted by Autism and ADHD. The evidence base for the effectiveness of interventions for children with autism is limited but a number of randomized control trials have shown benefits across a number of outcome measures1. It is important for parents, caregivers, and educators to understand the value of early intervention and to seek help as soon as possible.

Sources:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Chauhan et al., Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in Indian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Neeuro