Autism: Early Intervention is Key
- rkchakota
- May 9
- 4 min read
Early intervention is proven to help those on the autism spectrum.
Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term Autism in the early 20th century. It's from the Greek word autos, which means self. Originally linked to schizophrenia, it was separated from the chronic mental issue in the mid-20th century by psychiatrist Leo Kanner.
The Numbers
What we know today about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) goes further than either Bleuler or Kanner knew.
According to the organization Autism Speaks, one in 36 U.S. children has been diagnosed with ASD. Among those, the ratio is approximately four boys for every one girl.
ASD features a variety of experiences. For example, those with Asperger's Syndrome could have a small range of interests and issues with social situations. Others have sensory issues requiring special methods (headphones, leaving a room) to handle daily activities.
These neurodivergent individuals are no longer shipped to "special" centers, ignored because they aren’t the same as "normal" people known as neurotypicals. In fact, plenty of people with ASD go to school, work, and engage in relationships.
This is the case with my son. The key to placing him on the path to success was early intervention.
Establishing the Tools
My son seemed perfectly okay during his first year. His height and weight were on the mark. He even said his first words earlier than his twin sister.
Uncertainties grew after his first birthday. His progress to crawl and walk was slower than his sibling's. He didn't talk much. Additionally, it took great effort to establish eye contact with him.
His mother, whose intuition is beyond reproach, knew something was wrong. I, the disbelieving father, initially thought my son’s development schedule was slightly slower for another reason.
After several visits to the pediatrician about his condition, and a period of observation, therapists recommended testing for ASD. Living in Delaware at the time, we were sent to the Brennan School, a public education institution for those on the spectrum.
Unfortunately, he hit enough of the criteria detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to be categorized with ASD. Fortunately, on his second birthday, he was enrolled in the Brennan School to begin the early intervention process. We watched him with tears in our eyes as the school bus picked him up at our house each day to take him to his class.
The Power of Early Intervention
Research reveals early intervention works best when children are two or three years old. The reason is their brains are more malleable than in their tweens or teens. As a result, treatments have a better chance of working.
Boy, did they work for my son. Within a few weeks, he began to speak in full sentences. His mother and I joke he hasn’t stopped since then. He was enrolled in occupational and physical therapy to strengthen his balance and walking.
As he grew, he spent half his time in a regular preschool environment. We knew our son was improving in leaps and bounds when he cried each time he went back to his autism-based classroom. He wanted to be part of the crowd.
Each year we saw him take three steps forward for every one back. When we moved to Colorado he was completely integrated into elementary school classes. His charm wooed teachers and students alike. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) helped everyone see his progress and make plans for the future.
He certainly had moments when his neurodivergence traits were apparent. Stimming was one example, often in the form of repetitive movements and noises, to calm down. He'd also talk to himself -- something he continues to do today.
Plenty of times, his frustrations boiled over into screaming tantrums. In these situations, all we and his teachers could do was establish eye contact, calm him, and give him some ideas to cope with stressful environments.
The Blooming
Something wonderful happened when he reached seventh grade. My son bloomed. His stemming stopped for the most part, as did his tantrums. He established solid friendships with teachers and peers. Frankly, I'm impressed at how many people know him and regularly say hi.
In high school, he joined numerous clubs and became a statistician and equipment manager for the baseball and football teams. Though he lost his middle school acquaintances, he connected with several lovely people.
He also got a job as a busboy. He is nothing but diligent in his responsibilities, putting 100% into everything he does.
Today
My son graduated at the end of 2024 with a GPA was somewhere around 3.8. He received braids for the National Honor Society, Business Honor Society, and Tech Honor Society. During the convocation ceremony ahead of graduation, he won awards for physical education and social studies. He was adorned with so much swag I was surprised he wasn't stooped when he walked down the aisle to get his diploma.
As I write this, he completed his freshman year at a Northern Colorado community college and is preparing to attend Colorado State University. As we did when he was little, his mother and I are working with him to minimize the impact the stress of college can cause.
I'm extremely proud of him, as I am of his twin sister and the rest of my children. I know he will excel in whatever he does.
What Did We Learn Today, Rich?
Early intervention is key to helping children with ASD flourish. Don't chalk it up to slow development or something you imagine is wrong. Don't dismiss the possibility of your child having ASD. Get an evaluation done as soon as possible.
All the best.
Rich Scott Keller
ClearVoice Portfolio: https://clearvoice.com/cv/RichardKeller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpantscreations/
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