The Benefits of Early Intervention Therapy For Children With ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can manifest differently in different children. Getting them involved in early intervention therapy can help adjust the way they navigate the world and help them catch up to their peers easier. It's the best start for them, as kids with ASD are more likely to advance closer to their peers if they have early intervention therapy to help them develop the skills they need from a young age.

Around one in 44 children has ASD, so your child won't be alone in going through this type of therapy and will thrive alongside their peers. Here are just some of the benefits your child may see after going through early intervention therapy.

1. Increased Motor Skills

Treatment can lead to enhanced motor skills, and just a year of working on them can yield incredible results that can help a child with ASD function much better. You can help support the treatments by encouraging your child to use their motor skills at home or on the playground. Encourage them to play pretend and use their imagination, but don't push them too hard. Your child will develop when they're ready — there isn't a set milestone for any significant development. Work at a pace that is comfortable for your child.

2. Improve Language Skills

Many children with ASD have challenges with speech, potentially putting them behind their peers. Early intervention therapy works with a child to ensure that their speech levels are similar to other kids their age. They can tackle any challenges your child finds in speaking as long as they are a verbal child.

Around 30% of children with ASD are non-verbal, meaning you may have to navigate learning language another way. A child can still learn their native language without talking — and resources like sign language and tech devices are all available to help them better communicate what they want and need — it’s up to the comfort level of you and your child.

3. More Coping Skills

One of the possible indicators of a child having ASD is sensitivities to different sensory experiences, such as sound or even different types of food. Early intervention therapy can help them understand the coping skills they need to work through difficult situations that might otherwise repel them. When practiced from a young age, these coping skills might just transform experiences that would otherwise be revolting or terrifying for your child.

Therapy for folks with ASD might revolve around coping and calming strategies, which can help keep them emotionally stable in a troubling situation. You can practice with them by helping them understand which coping strategies work best for them, and slightly older children can learn how to regulate their emotions and manage themselves during stressful times or situations when their parents or guardians aren't around.

4. Better Behavioral Skills

Some kids with ASD may struggle with sitting still or might be prone to outbursts at inopportune times. No two children with ASD are the same — it's a spectrum for a reason. Understanding how each symptom presents itself in your child might help you figure out how to help them best.

Behavioral therapy has been known to help children with any behavioral challenges they may run into, especially when parents help them through the most difficult steps of adjustment. Early intervention therapy can help your child with the coping strategies they need to know in order to deal with challenging situations.

5. Development to Their Full Potential

You can rest assured knowing that your child will be well taken care of, both in therapy and out in the world. With early intervention therapy, your child can learn the skills they should be developing in the first years of their life. While there is no "perfect" age to have milestones, you can use this form of therapy to supplement your child's growth so they have an easier time in school and beyond.

Early intervention therapy has a proven track record for increasing child development. There's no way to ensure how well your child will respond to the therapy, but given that it's helped so many children with ASD reach similar developmental levels to their peers, it's worth a shot. You know that your child has limitless potential, so it's worth a try to bring it out of them.

Early Intervention Therapy Can Make A Difference

ASD isn't a condition that needs to be cured and it might be a good match for you and your child. Help your child grow and stand beside them always, and they'll thrive in any environment.