Early intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

One of the most widely known applications of behavior analysis is through early intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this chapter, we begin with a brief history of early intervention services over the past 30 years and how early behavior analysts changed the trajectory for children with ASD. Following the success of these early and intensive treatments, applied behavior analysis therapy became one of the most well-researched and supported interventions for children with ASD. This chapter provides an overview of the typical process of early intervention service provision from initial referral and intake to transition and termination of services. Differences in teaching methodologies, such as discrete trial training versus natural environment teaching, as well as factors to consider when selecting treatment strategies are also discussed. In addition, this chapter describes the best practices in clinical supervision and training for professionals in the field and alerts the reader to specific ethical codes throughout the chapter referencing the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's Professional and Ethical Compliance Code. While early intervention is one of the more established practices in the field of behavior analysis, we still have a lot to learn in order to make our treatments the most meaningful for our clients and society.