Parent Training Interventions for Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by impairment in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.

The prevalence is increasing every year. According to the recent studies by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 54 children have autism spectrum disorder.

Early detection and early interventions are very important in the management of autism spectrum disorder. If we intervene at the earliest in the toddler age (1 to 3 years), significant improvement occurs and children have acquired age-appropriate communication skills and social skills within about 2 years of parent mediated early developmental and behavioral interventions.

This is because the neuroplasticity is more prominent in infancy and toddler age, when neural circuits display increased sensitivity to acquire instructive signals from the environment.

Each toddler with autism spectrum disorder is unique and will have specific developmental and behavioral issues. Parent training interventions provide scientific information to the parent regarding the child’s specific needs and the therapies to be provided which is unique for that child. Thus each child gets individualized interventions tailored to the child’s specific needs.

Parents are the primary caregivers for the children and experts in child guidance and developmental pediatrics can facilitate parent training interventions effectively. Early intensive and individualized parent mediated developmental and behavioral interventions are the key interventions in the management of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.