Why is early intervention important for autism?
At the age of two or three, autistic kids must be placed into an intense and highly structured educational program. Both scientific studies and practical experience have shown that the prognosis is greatly improved if a child underwent such a program. An autistic child performs stereotype behaviors like rocking or twiddling a penny because doing repetitive behaviors shuts off sights and sounds which cause confusion or pain.
But if the child is allowed to shut out the world, his brain will not develop. Both autistic and PDD children need many hours of structured education to keep their brain engaged with the world. Interacting with an adult or another child is healthy for them. However, a teacher must be careful that the child does not experience sensory overload. A child with milder sensory problems often will respond well to Lovaas-type programs. These children need to be kept engaged or else worst things could happen. For example, if a young two or five year old autistic child is to sit alone watching TV or playing video games all day, his brain will be shut off from the world.
Children with more severe sensory processing problems may experience sensory overload. These children may be classified under two major categories:
1. Children who respond well to a therapist who is gently intrusive and pulls them out of their world.
2. Children who have more neurological problems and they may respond poorly to a strict Lovaas program.
They will require a gentler approach. Some are "mono channel" because they cannot see and hear at the same time. They either have to look at something or they have to listen. This type of children may respond best when the teacher whispers quietly in a dimly illuminated room. Simultaneous looking and listening may result in sensory overload and shutdown.
A good teacher should adapt his teaching method on the condition of the autistic child. And the teacher has to be gently insistent in order to be successful. He should know how to push hard yet gently.
