The Autism Journey: The Power of Early Intervention
Diagnosis and First Steps
When you learn your young child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it's natural to have many questions. At Opya, we're here to guide you through understanding early intervention and its benefits for your child.
What is Early Intervention for Autism?
Early intervention refers to autism therapy treatments that begin around preschool age, typically between 24 month to 36 month old. During this crucial period, a child's brain is still forming and more receptive to change - a concept known as "plasticity." This makes early intervention potentially more effective in the long term.
Our amazing clinical team of highly trained, compassionate BCBAs, RBTs, Speech Therapists, and Occupational Therapists have dedicated their professional lives to helping children diagnosed with autism reach their full potential.
Benefits of Early Intervention
Early intervention gives your child the best possible start and the greatest chance to develop their full potential. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that early intervention therapy for autism is more likely to have significant long-term positive effects on symptoms and skills development.
Key Benefits:
- Maximizes developmental potential
- Improves long-term outcomes
- Enhances skill development
- Reduces challenging behaviors
Skills Developed Through Early Intervention
Early intervention therapies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), help children with autism develop crucial skills. These include:
Socialization
Improving interaction with others and understanding social cues.
Communication
Enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Self-awareness
Developing understanding of one's own emotions and reactions.
Self-regulation
Learning to manage emotions and behaviors effectively.
Physical abilities
Improving motor skills and physical coordination.
Cognitive skills
Enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
Each child's therapy plan is tailored to their specific needs and goals. Our therapy programs have a defined duration, and children graduate from the program when they achieve their set objectives, marking a significant milestone in their development journey.
Our Multidisciplinary Approach to Autism Treatment
At Opya, we understand that no single therapeutic approach will work for all children diagnosed with autism. Our ABA therapy specialists are trained in a variety of different approaches and partner closely with Opya colleagues who are speech therapists and occupational therapists. This collaboration allows us to create individualized, unique treatment plans for each child in our care, providing the most comprehensive and effective autism therapy service possible.
The Pillars of Our Approach:
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ABA Therapy
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Occupational Therapy
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Speech Therapy
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Feeding Therapy
Creating Your Child's Plan
Our Care Team Assignment and Treatment
At Opya, our highly trained therapists work with you and your child to identify their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses. Once one of our board-certified clinicians has conducted a comprehensive assessment of your child to determine a treatment plan tailored to your child's specific needs, we will proceed with the following steps:
1. Create a Therapy Schedule
Based on the recommended treatment hours.
2. Assign a Dedicated Clinical Care Team
Our team will be dedicated to your child's therapy.
3. Begin Daily Treatment Sessions
Start sessions at home, in our clinic, or via telehealth.
Success Stories
"My son was with Opya for 26 months. We started during the COVID pandemic and things were not easy inside or outside of sessions. We are very grateful to have had a team of dedicated professionals working with us. My son has grown and learned skills that he can use everyday at home, in school, and in the community. We really appreciate everyone from scheduling to our clinical team. You guys rock! Last but not least, our BT consistently went above and beyond teaching my son and helping him meet his goals. She was very patient, knowledgeable, experienced, and loving. My whole family loved working with her." -- Jennifer, San Francisco Bay Area, CA