Abstract
In the state of Missouri, autism is a growing phenomenon affecting a significant minority of young children. For example, according to the latest research, it is estimated that 1 in every 70 children (1 in 43 boys and 1 in 200 girls) are affected by autism. These figures are similar to the average estimate of children identified with autism (1 in 68) in all areas of the United States. Consequently, there is a growing need to support this heterogeneous population of children through early intervention underpinned by empirical evidence. The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is one of several evidence-based interventions for children with autism, ages 12 to 48 months. The purpose of this commentary article is twofold. First, the paper provides a brief but informative overview of ESDM research. Second, the paper discusses the ESDM program in the context of St. Louis Arc, a non-profit agency supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives. The intended audience for this paper includes parents of children with or at risk for autism, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), occupational and speech therapists, general and special education teachers, and non-profit organizations providing clinical and community outreach programs for children with or at risk of autism.
Highlights
According to the American Psychiatric Association [1], autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior
Rogers et al [6] adopted a randomized controlled trial and compared the efficacy of parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) (P-ESDM) trials to community treatment. Results showed that both groups demonstrated significant gains on measures of language (p
Other research [8] involving a randomized controlled trial found that the children who participated in ESDM showed significant improvements in IQ, adaptive behavior, and autism diagnosis compared with children who received community-intervention
Summary
According to the American Psychiatric Association [1], autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. 2 Behavior and Autism Services, St. Louis Arc, 1177 N. The nature of autism and its coexisting disorders can compromise a child’s functioning and development across different contexts and settings (at school and/or at home and throughout the wider community). ESDM is one of many evidence-based interventions for children with autism, ages 12 to 48 months [5].
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