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. 2023 Jan 6;10(1):122.
doi: 10.3390/children10010122.

Importance of Early Intervention in Reducing Autistic Symptoms and Speech-Language Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Slavica Maksimović  1   2 , Maša Marisavljević  1   2 , Nina Stanojević  1   2 , Milica Ćirović  1   2 , Silvana Punišić  1   2 , Tatjana Adamović  1   2 , Jelena Đorđević  3   4 , Ivan Krgović  5 , Miško Subotić  1   2
Affiliations

Importance of Early Intervention in Reducing Autistic Symptoms and Speech-Language Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Slavica Maksimović et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

The intervention focused on starting treatment at an early age to develop the child’s full potential, which is known as early intervention. Given that autistic symptoms and language deficits occur at an early age and affect other areas of development in children with autistic spectrum disorder, we wanted to examine if early intervention is more effective in the reduction in autistic symptoms and language deficits in children aged 36−47 months old when compared to children 48−60 months old. The sample consisted of 29 children diagnosed with ASD who were admitted for integrative therapy. All participants were divided into two groups based on age: G1: 36−47 months old children, and G2: 48−60 months old children. To estimate the presence of autistic symptoms, we used the GARS-3, and for the assessment of speech−language abilities, we used the subscale Estimated Speech and Language Development (ESLD). Our results regarding the effect of the group on the difference in the scores at two time points showed that there was a statistically significant effect of the group on the reduction in autistic symptoms (p < 0.05) but no effect of the group on the differences in speech−language abilities between the two time points (p > 0.05). Our study highlights the importance of emphasizing the exact age when using the terms “early intervention” and “early development” in future studies and practice because it is necessary to determine and establish guidelines about which particular ages are crucial for starting treatment in certain developmental aspects.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; early intervention; indegrative therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart with the selection of participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average scores on (a) GARS-III and (b) ESLD for G1 and G2 at two time points and repeated measures ANOVA results.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Average scores on each GARS III subscale for G1 and G2 at two time points, and repeated measures ANOVA results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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