Psychoeducational Intervention in Preschool Age

Background: Early and intensive intervention on pervasive developmental disorders such as autism, is regarded by specialists everywhere, as vital for a better prognosis. We developed an intensive and systematic program (Psychoeducational integrated intervention) , with a multidisciplinary team (with psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists), for children with ages under 6 years old, with autism spectrum disorders The program takes place at the clinical setting but also in the child’s school and home, integrating all the resources of family. Parents are invited to participate in the sessions, to learn daily strategies to promote their child’s development at home. The success of the intervention is evident with monthly monitoring and adjusting of objectives.

Objectives: To evaluate the success of this program in ASD children

Methods:

• All children were assessed with ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Shedule and the Psychoeducational Profile III (PEP-III; Schopler, Lansing, Reichler, & Marcus, 2005) in at least two distinct moments. The results obtained in the two evaluation moments were analyzed, with approximately 12 months of interval between the first and second moments.
• In this study 25 children were selected, who attended the program for a period equal to or greater than 12 months; The children selected were aged between 20 and 70 months.

Results:

• As can be seen from the results , from Moment 1 to Moment 2, approximately 12 months apart, great progress was observed in all children. All the children showed evolution, with a greater number of items in which they are successful, as well as a greater number of skills that are emerging.

Conclusions: This early intervention program integrating different resources involving therapists anf parent training may contribute for a better prognosis in ASD