What is ESDM?

What is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)?

Click on the link below to learn more about the Early Start Denver Model:
http://interactingwithautism.com/section/treating/esdmod

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

• Naturalistic behavioral therapy that integrates a relationship-focused, developmental model
• Based on current research on autism and brain development
• Closes or narrows the developmental gap between children with autism and peers
• Only comprehensive, evidence-based therapy specific for children with autism 12-48 months of age
• Intensive teaching on child’s individual objectives during natural routines and interactions
• Parents learn to implement naturalistic behavioral intervention in daily interactions with child – so child receives thousands of hours of extra therapy in addition to formal therapy

Benefits of ESDM (published in Journal of Pediatrics)

• Promotes the normal development of the brain and behavior
• Higher gains in IQ than control group (10 points higher)
• Higher gains in language skills
• Higher adaptive/social behavior gains
• Less severe autism diagnosis/characteristics
• Research using brain scans suggests that ESDM improves brain activity associated with social and communication skills. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23101741)
• TIME Magazine names ESDM one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2012