The internationally successful USA early autism intervention programme, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), launches at award-winning brain and mind clinic Re:Cognition Health.
Hailed as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs in 2012, ESDM is a play-based therapy that has rapidly been adopted in the USA, Canada, Australia and France as an effective method for treating toddlers with autism.
Several published studies have shown evidence of improvements in cognitive skills and IQ, language and social behaviour of young children with autism who have received early treatment with the ESDM programme.
Intensive play-based activities
Developed at the UC Davis Mind Institute of the University of California by professors Sally Rogers & Geraldine Dawson, ESDM uses intensive play-based activities embedded into daily routines to target language, learning self-care skills but also areas such as motor skills and non-verbal communication.
The model also places focus on the quality of parent-child relationships and their emotional interaction, whilst teaching is carried out in a way that mimics the natural process of learning of children with typical development.
ESDM the only validated intervention up to age four
ESDM is the only early intervention model to be validated in a randomized clinical trial as effective for children with autism spectrum disorder aged 18 – 48 months.
Children with more significant difficulties were found to benefit from the programme as much as children with milder symptoms.
There has also been some evidence that improvements in language, social behavior and autism symptoms, correspond with normalised EEG brain activity during social abilities tasks.
Parents and carers are fully involved in applying the model and receive support, feedback and help to understand the principles of ESDM and develop their skills in applying some techniques used in the method.
The Re:Cognition Health team
The ESDM service at Re:Cognition Health is led by Dr Dimitrios Paschos, Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
He is part of a multi-disciplinary group of experts comprising a consultant paediatrician, consultant child psychiatrist, psychologists, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist. They work collaboratively in conjunction with the family and the child.
ESDM can be provided in the clinic, the child’s home or a group environment, such as a nursery or day care centre.
For further information, please visit www.recognitionhealth.com or call 0203 355 3536
