|
We are pleased to announce that on August 11 we will open L.E.A.R.N. (Learning, Education And Research Network), a centre incorporating: - Early Intervention WA;
- The L.E.A.R.N. Training Centre, and
- The L.E.A.R.N. Educational Science Centre.
Darin Cairns will be joining L.E.A.R.N. as our Senior Clinical Psychologist. Darin will have overall responsibility for our comprehensive autism early intervention program. As well, he will oversee the L.E.A.R.N. Training Centre for training parents, therapists, teachers, teachers assistants, educational assistants and school psychologists in the principles of evidence based early intervention and education.
L.E.A.R.N. will house Early Intervention WA on the ground floor, offering parents a clinic based therapy setting and a centre at which to conduct program updates. As always, parents will be actively encouraged to participate in and observe therapy sessions at the centre so that they can maximise teaching opportunities outside of a direct therapy setting. Parents will have the choice of undertaking therapy at our centre or at home, or a combination of both. The centre will bring us into line with research findings that the best outcomes and superior quality control have been obtained in programs with clinic based supervision and training of staff. In addition, due to parent demand, we will be running a centre based weekend and holiday social skills program – details of which will be announced shortly. |
|
|
Welcome to Early Intervention W.A. |
|
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Early Intervention W.A. is an independent provider of ABA based therapy services for young children having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Extensive controlled studies have shown that the most effective therapy for autism is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), performed in the home with the active involvement of parents and family members. We focus on teaching these ABA skills to parents, while also providing therapists with broad experience in the treatment of children with autism to complete the therapy program. |
|
|
The importance of early diagnosis |
|
Studies indicate that the earlier a child with autism commences therapy, the more effective that therapy is likely to be. It appears that there is a window of opportunity between the ages of 2 and 5, during which a child’s brain is sufficiently adaptable that many of the deficits of autism can be reduced or corrected by intensive therapy. Once past this age, however, the benefits of therapy reduce, and although gains can be made, they tend not to be as great. This limited timespan during which substantial gains can be made means that early diagnosis is a critical factor in determining the outcome of a therapy program. Often parents and GPs will take a ‘wait and see’ approach, on the assumption that problems seen at 18-24 months will correct with time. In many cases this approach results in further regression and increased stress on the family. Unfortunately it also results in the loss of valuable time. If you have a young child whose development is causing concern, particularly if they have lost skills or speech that they had previously demonstrated, it is essential that they be seen by a developmental paediatrician as soon as possible. An early diagnosis of autism, while devastating to the parents, is preferable to neglecting the problem and losing the opportunity to address and potentially correct the deficits of autism
|
|
|
