RSS
Home
Study: Early autism treatment can improve diagnosis
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
A study of behavior treatment in autistic children has found that early intervention, as early as 18 months, can improve the symptoms of the disorder and even result in a better diagnosis.
The study underscores the emerging theory that early intervention can really help autistic children and that early treatment may provide big benefits.
The study only studied 48 children but was so encouraging that it is being expanded. The children were between the ages of 18-30 months.
Some of the children were randomly assigned to receive behavior treatment called the Early Start Denver model from therapists and parents, which focused on social interaction and communication.
Children in the specialized group had four hours of therapist-led treatment five days a week, plus at least five hours weekly from parents.
After two years, IQ increased an average of almost 18 points in the specialized group, versus seven points in the others. Language skills also improved more in the specialized group. Almost 30 percent in the specialized group were re-diagnosed with a less severe form of autism after two years, versus 5 percent of the others. No children were considered "cured."
Experts are calling for continued research and autism education.
Want more information?
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
- Giving children contact lenses instead of glasses can improve self-image
- Doctors seeking to prevent the publication of negative comments online
- Study finds that optimistic women live longer
- Need another reason to lose some weight? Belly fat contributes to breathing problems
- 95% of cell phones carried by doctors may carry bacteria
- Grandparents found be a stabilizing source for kids, especially those in turmoil
- Surprising reason behind nation's nursing shortage
- Experts say school fitness programs fall far short of what children need
- Embryo adoption - the new frontier in fertility?
- Warm weather can cause increase in migraines
- Economic news makes men more depressed than women, study says
- Experts: Ovarian cancer can be detected 2 years earlier through routine screening
- Colorado debates bill that would require DNA samples from all felony convicts
- Is your teenager missing an important vitamin in their diet? Research says yes
- New product recalls from the CPSC
- US failing compared to other major countries in health care, according to report
- Living near open spaces encourages kids to get more physical activity, study finds
- Kids obese? Don't blame it on food nutrition programs: USDA
- New product recalls by the CPSC, 3/12/09
- Researchers find ovarian changes in obese women that affect fertility
- Is your child's school near a fast food restaurant? Expect obesity rates at the school to rise
- Allergic to peanuts? Exposure can help build tolerance, research finds
- Do you have neck fat? Research finds it might be linked to heart problems
- Feed 'em fish! Why fish may increase intelligence in teenagers
- New test can detect Alzheimer's in its earliest stages
- Struggling with infertility? Hope may be on the horizon
- Is there lead in your children's books? The government isn't so sure
- Obesity can be as harmful to your health as smoking, research says
- Why sustained bouts of exercise are better for your kids
- Lessons we can learn from Natasha Richardson's tragic accident
- Nordstroms recalls girls' shoes
- Depression pill approved for children amid controversy
- Why booze may be even better for your bones than calcium
- Is veggie Viagra coming your way?
- Men are cutting more than costs with the economy down
- New study shows anesthesia may cause learning disabilites in small children
- Childhood soy diet may protect against breast cancer later in life
- http://www.examiner.com/x-5092-Denver-Family-Health-Examiner~y2009m3d24-Childhood-soy-diet-may-protect-against-breast-cancer-later-in-life
- Breast cancer more likely to reappear in younger women
- Children with ADHD may learn better when fidgeting, research finds
- 7 new product recalls from the CPSC
