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The Scottish Centre for Autism preschool treatment programme. I: A developmental approach to early intervention
1Scottish Centre for Autism, Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Yorkhill NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK. jeff_salt@hotmail.com
Insights
This study presents a National Health Service (NHS) early intervention approach for autism, focusing on enhancing social communication and interaction skills in children through intensive therapy and parent training.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Early intervention is crucial for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- There is a growing need for accessible, mainstream therapeutic approaches.
- The Scottish Centre for Autism developed a specific early intervention model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a mainstream National Health Service (NHS) early intervention program for autism.
- To outline the treatment aims focused on improving social communication and interaction.
- To detail methods for fostering play skills and behavioral flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Intensive one-to-one therapy delivered by trained therapists.
- Structured parent training programs integrated into the intervention.
- Utilizing a child-led approach with imitation as a core strategy.
- Employing language contingent on activities and promoting flexibility in social exchanges.
Main Results:
- The described intervention targets core deficits in social communication and interaction.
- Parent training component aims to empower caregivers in supporting child development.
- The protocol is designed to foster broader developmental gains, including play and behavioral flexibility.
Conclusions:
- This NHS-based early intervention model offers a structured yet adaptable approach to supporting children with autism.
- The combination of intensive therapy and parent training is key to improving social-communicative skills.
- The intervention aims for functional improvements in play and behavioral flexibility, contributing to overall child development.
Abstract:
Early intervention is an area of intense current interest for parents and professionals. This article describes a mainstream National Health Service (NHS) approach to early intervention, developed at the Scottish Centre for Autism. The aims of treatment are to improve the child's early social communication and social interaction skills, leading to the potential development of play and flexibility of behaviour. This is achieved by 1:1 intensive treatment by trained therapists, and a schedule of parent training. The treatment protocol incorporates a child led approach; the use of imitation as a therapeutic strategy; using language contingent on activities; and the introduction of flexibility into play and social exchanges.