Case report: Preemptive intervention for an infant with early signs of autism spectrum disorder during the first year of life

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes neurodevelopmental conditions traditionally considered to bring life long disabilities, severely impacting individuals and their families. Very early identification and intervention during the very first phases of life have shown to significantly diminish symptom severity and disability, and improve developmental trajectories. Here we report the case of a young child showing early behavioral signs of ASD during the first months of life, including diminished eye contact, reduced social reciprocity, repetitive movements. The child received a pre-emptive parent mediated intervention based on the Infant Start, an adaptation of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), specifically developed for children with ASD signs during the first year of life. The child here described received intervention from 6 to 32 months of age, in combination with educational services. Diagnostic evaluations performed at several time points (8, 14, 19, and 32 months) showed progressive improvements in his developmental level and ASD symptoms. Our case study supports the possibility of identifying ASD symptoms and providing services as soon as concerns emerge even during the first year of life. Our report, in combination with recent infant identification and intervention studies, suggests the need for very early screening and preemptive intervention to promote optimal outcomes.

Editorial: Psychometrics in Psychiatry 2022: Autism

“…This feature is also common to other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 10) and specific learning disorder (SLD; 11). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of this novel tool with 6-70-year-old individuals showed successful preliminary outcomes, highlighting the importance of evaluating this autism-related difficulty during the diagnostic procedure.In addition, this Research Topic includes studies that validate measures that not only reflect the two main core diagnostic criteria for autism (i.e., social/communicative difficulties; the presence of restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors), but also assess autism-related difficulties that negatively impact the individual with ASD and his or her family and, as a result, require targeted and meaningful interventions (12). The study by Mohammadi et al validated a measure evaluating mental health and problem/risky behaviors in children and young individuals with ASD; the study by Uljarevićet al developed and validated a tool examining daily living skills.…”

“…In addition, this Research Topic includes studies that validate measures that not only reflect the two main core diagnostic criteria for autism (i.e., social/communicative difficulties; the presence of restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors), but also assess autism-related difficulties that negatively impact the individual with ASD and his or her family and, as a result, require targeted and meaningful interventions (12). The study by Mohammadi et al validated a measure evaluating mental health and problem/risky behaviors in children and young individuals with ASD; the study by Uljarevićet al developed and validated a tool examining daily living skills.…”