ADVANCEMENTS IN EARLY INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW

Abstract

Early intervention (EI) based on behavioral science is one of the most promising treatment options for children with autism. Ever since Ivar Lovaas study from 1987, researchers are aware of the benefits of intensive early intervention in improving the outcomes of children with autism. Children who receive EI often show remarkable improvements in their social, cognitive, and adaptive skills. These interventions typically involve structured teaching methods, intensive behavioral therapies, and a variety of support services tailored to the individual needs of each child. By addressing the core symptoms of autism early in a child's development, these programs aim to foster better long-term outcomes. In this paper, we presented an overview of the main topics in the field of EI for children with autism published in major scientific journals. For this purpose, we performed a search of the Web of Science citation base and identified 91 articles published in the period 2019-2023 that had the words “early intervention” and “autism” OR “ASD” in their titles. The selected articles dealt with several interesting topics ranging from improving social communication and joint attention to topics dealing with quality of life and parent mediated EI programs. We concluded the paper with a discussion on the future directions of EI research. Despite the significant progress made, there is still much to learn about optimizing these early behavior interventions. Future research should aim to personalize intervention strategies to meet the unique needs of each child with autism and their families. Additionally, more longitudinal studies are needed to understand the long-term impacts of EI on various life outcomes.