feature
THE KEY
Effective early intervention is an important first step
for children, teens and adults with autism.
G
etting on a path to early there was something different. intervention is the key to Early intervention is about doing really know about trains, and they can
helping a child, teenager intervention as soon as you are aware, tell you everything there is to know
it doesn’t matter what the age is.” about trains, and you’re thinking ‘wow
or adult with autism to achieve their
full potential, according to Autism
Ms Karavolos said autism is
“They might like trains, but they
what a great memory’ but then you
SA Chief Executive Officer Jenny normally associated with social skills ask them where they left their socks
Karavolos. and social communication, as well and they don’t respond because it’s
as general communication, such not a specific interest.
“With the term early intervention,
we mean as soon as you detect as not picking up inferences or not something – it doesn’t necessarily laughing at the same things that behaviour. Some repetitive behaviour
mean that detection is only at an others find amusing. will be to cope with the environment,
early age,” Ms Karavolos said.
“Autism is a spectrum disorder,
and it could be communication
“Another one is interests – their
“Another sign is repetitive
so you might see flapping, or it might
interests can be very restricted,” be to constantly check that the door
she said. is shut. Another one is echolalia,
skills affected, it could be social skills
affected, it could be special interests,
it could be sensory processing.
For some, signs might not be
detected as a child, say in primary
school, but they get to high school
or university and realise there’s
something a bit different.
“In that case, there could have
been a few things where – as a
child – the parents thought, that’s
quirky or cute, but it wasn’t until
the child reached 19 and was going
to university and was in social
interactions where they realised
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autism
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