Finding the right early intervention for your child with Autism or developmental delay

Learning that your child is not hitting their milestones, or not developing as expected is a very bitter pill to swallow.

But knowledge is power – so once you know that there are some challenges you can act on them and find solutions that can help.

When a child is identified as having Developmental Delays or is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, most parents are told to take them to speech therapy, OT, psychology, or find an intensive form of early intervention. As soon as possible.

The reason these recommendations are made is that the younger your child is, the more ‘plastic’ their brain is. And hence, the more benefits therapy can have on their overall development and the way they participate in life.

But knowing that early intervention will benefit your child, and then finding the right one that meets their needs and your family’s needs, is a whole other story.

The questions we often get from families are:

• How do I know what is high quality early intervention and what is not?
• What are the different types of early intervention?
• What is going to have the most benefit for my child?
• How long will they need therapy?
• What can I, as a parent, do to help my child?
• How much does it cost and how can I access NDIS funding to be able to pay for therapy?

Our Clinical Director and Clinical Manager from our new Northern Beaches early intervention centre will talk you through all this information and will be there to answer any other questions you have on the Northern Beaches Mums Facebook Live.

You can check out all the early intervention programs they run at the Child Development Institute at www.cdinstitute.com.au.