Early Screening and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Introduction
Recent studies have underscored the importance of early screening and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Unlike earlier research that recommended screening children at or after age three, these studies indicate that signs of autism can be detected as early as 15 months of age.
Detecting Autism in Infants
The first study, conducted over a decade, examined data from 110 children diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 2 and 3. Researchers collected home videos from the first year of life along with parental interviews, focusing on developmental indicators of ASD. Key variables assessed included eye contact, responses to parental voices, and motor development delays. Notably, 98 out of the 110 children (89%) displayed symptoms of autism within their first 15 months.
Benefits of Early Intervention
The second study divided participants into two groups: 39 toddlers aged 24-36 months diagnosed with ASD and 45 infants aged 12-24 months, of which 38 were diagnosed with ASD and 7 were classified as “high-risk.” Both groups received treatment using the Mifne Approach, a method developed at the Mifne Center that combines attachment theory and family therapy. This approach actively involves the family to foster a supportive environment for children with ASD.
Assessment Criteria
The study evaluated several areas: communication, play, functioning, and engagement. Communication measures included pointing, speech, and language comprehension, while play was assessed through curiosity, concentration, and creativity. Functioning involved evaluating fine and gross motor skills, eating behaviors, and engagement was based on physical and eye contact, detachment, and obsessions. Therapists graded these criteria at the end of therapy sessions using video recordings and parental input.
Results and Implications
Both groups demonstrated improved engagement across all assessed criteria following treatment, with the infant group showing the most significant advancements. Similar positive trends were noted in communication, play, and functioning. These results suggest that the most effective window for ASD intervention occurs within the first two years of life, coinciding with critical brain development.
Dr. Hanna A. Alonim, the leader of both studies, remarked, “These two studies confirm that there is a window of opportunity and it makes complete sense that early detection and intervention will affect neuroanatomical development components at a stage which is most influential for the rapidly developing brain, even to the extent that the full-blown manifestation of autism can be prevented from escalation.”
Conclusion
These findings challenge previous recommendations that suggested intervention should begin at or after age three, highlighting the necessity for earlier screening and treatment for ASD.
References
Alonim, H.A. et al. (2021). A Retrospective Study of Prodromal Variables Associated with Autism among a Global Group of Infants during their First Fifteen Months of Life. International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care; 7: 178. Doi: 10.15344/2455-2364/2021/178.
Alonim, H.A. et al. (2021). A Comparative Study of Infants and Toddlers Treated with the Mifne Approach Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care; 7: 179. Doi: 10.15344/2455-2364/2021/179.
Oberlander, E. (2021). Autism can be identified as early as the first year of life. EurekAlert! Accessed Jan. 13, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/939075.