Early treatment helps in improving brain function of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a new study says.
ASD is a developmental disorder resulting in significant social, communication and behavioral changes. According to CDC, one in 88 children in the country is affected by autism that normally starts at age three and often stays throughout a person's life. Efforts for early detection of the disorder have been conducted for years.Until now, no medical or blood test is available for an early diagnosis of this condition. Health practitioners usually detect the disorder by analyzing the behavior and development of the child.
The study published in the current issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, found children affected with autism, when treated early by age one through an early intervention behavioral program called pivotal response treatment that blends developmental aspects of learning and development showing dramatic improvements in behavior, communication and brain function.
A team of researchers from Yale Child Study Center treated two five-year-olds with pivotal response treatment and examined changes in their brain with the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging. After identifying each kid's behavioral goals through the treatment, the researchers provided them with a treatment that included motivational play activities.
After the treatment, children were found communicating easily with people. The scans showed increased brain activity in the regions associated with social perception. Now the researchers are planning to re-confirm their findings through a larger group of 60 participants.
"ASD is a heterogeneous disorder, and research aimed at understanding treatment must address this heterogeneity. Both the children in our current study made progress, but their degree of progress and level of skills at the end of treatment were distinct," researcher Kevin A. Pelphrey, who was involved in the study, said in a news release.
"Autism research has come a long way. These findings are exciting because they show that early intervention works in autism."
