Autism Therapy: Denver model

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The Early Start Denver Model

Journal of Early Intervention, by Vismara, LA, and Rogers SA, published in 2008, summarized Jan 4, 2010

A twelve-week individualized parent-child education program may be able to help very young children who are at risk for autism.

To date, most studies of children with autism focus on preschoolers who are 3 to 5 years old. This case study describes a nine-month-old infant who was at risk for autism. He was entered into the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). The infant was later diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and then recovered from his delays by the age of 24 months. The ESDM intervention focuses on teaching parents techniques to interact with their infants who are at risk for autism. The authors suggest that the ESDM parent-training intervention may be a good model for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with autism and their families.

Can One Hour per Week of Therapy Lead to Lasting Changes in Young Children with Autism?

Autism, by Vismara, LA, Colombi C., and Rogers SJ, published in 2009, summarized Jun 8, 2009

Social communication may be improved in children with autism when their parents learn applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy methods to use at home at least one hour a week.

Eight families of toddlers with autism took part in 1-hour therapy sessions for 12 weeks. The parents and children were together during the sessions and the parents learned about therapy techniques. Parents learned how to use methods from the Early Start Denver Model of ABA in their daily routines at home. After 12 weeks, children were speaking more often and interacting more with their parents and therapists. Children continued to improve in 4 more follow-up sessions over 3 months with no therapist help. The techniques were also helpful for children with aggressive behaviors.

Teaching Young Nonverbal Children with Autism Useful Speech: A Pilot Study of the Denver Model and PROMPT Interventions

J Autism Dev Disord, by Rogers, SJ, Hayden D., Hepburn S., Charlifue-Smith R., Hall T., and Hayes A., published in 2006, summarized Mar 24, 2008

Children with autism who were not talking improved in their use of speech using two different speech therapy programs.

Two methods of speech therapy were compared for how well they helped children (2-5 years old) who were nonverbal and spoke fewer than 5 known words per day. Ten children were divided into two groups: one group received "Denver model" therapy; and the other group received "PROMPT" therapy. Each child had 12 1-hour sessions with one type of therapy, and parents attended each session and learned how to practice with the children at home. Children were tested for language use at the end of the 12 week period, and again 3 months later. Of all the children in this study, 8 out of 10 children showed increases in using speech during therapy and at home. Both types of speech therapy worked to help these nonverbal children.

Early Start Denver Model May Help Raise I.Q.’s of Children with Autism

Jan 5, 2010

A recent study reported that children with autism who received intensive therapy with the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) may raise their I.Q. Forty-eight children, some as young as 18 months, were part of the study. Half of the children received ESDM and half received a community-based autism intervention. All the children improved their I.Q., however, the ESDM children also had larger improvements in listening and comprehension. ESDM was founded by Sally J. Rogers and Geraldine Dawson, who have recently published a new book, “Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism: Promoting Language, Learning, and Engagement." When NY Times reporter, Tara Parker-Pope asked Dr. Rogers how ESDM was different from other therapies, Dr. Rogers explained, “First, the kids are really young. Another important fact is that the kind of intervention that is being used is different. This is a developmentally based intervention that really pays a lot of attention to the quality of relationships.”

Read original article: Raising I.Q. in Toddlers With Autism

Study Seems to Validate Importance of Early Intervention as Treatment for Autism

Nov 30, 2009

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded a recent study, led by Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, that showed early intervention begun at 18 months of age and continuing for two years may help children with autism improve. The study included 48 children from the ages of 18 to 30 months. The children were randomly placed in groups that received either the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) or referred for less comprehensive intervention. The ESDM promotes family involvement in the therapy plan as well as individualized treatment and systematic instruction. ESDM focuses on communication and social interaction and includes "four hours of therapist-led treatment five days a week, plus at least five hours weekly from parents." While none of the children were considered "cured," the children in the ESDM group had increased IQ, increased language skills, and in some cases the original diagnosis was re-assessed to a less severe form of autism.

Read original article.

Autism Therapies Vary

Mar 20, 2007

While some parents of children with autism embrace applied behavioral analysis (ABA), others opt for more flexible and integrative approaches.

Treatments parents use include: Floortime, the Denver model (speech & langauge therapy interwoven with peer relationships), Pivotal Response Training (rewards for requested behavior mingled with play), and the classroom centered TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped CHildren).

Dr. Stanley Greenspan (GW University Medical School) suspects that different therapies all relate to the child's ability to focus. Dr. Stephen Gutstein (Texas) has developed a parent-centered "relationship development intervention" (RDI) program whose "strategy encourages 'experience-sharing'" with parents.

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