Welcome to the fourth and final post (probably) in my series on diagnosing autism at one-year-old! <\/a>When it was first suggested that Lina should be evaluated for autism at just over a year old, I was surprised and confused. Now, a few years later, well\u2026I\u2019m still constantly confused\u2026but not about whether to evaluate for autism. The evaluation was a good choice. I\u2019m confused by things like, \u201cWhy does Jack ask for a banana and then scream, \u2018NO BANANA!\u2019 when I give him one?\u201d And, \u201cWhy does Lina prefer watching Peppa Pig in Hindi?\u201d (Note: we do not speak Hindi.) But the benefits of an early autism diagnosis became more and more obvious over time.<\/p>\n In any event, I\u2019m hoping sharing our experience can help other parents and caregivers who might be feeling a little lost. Keep these benefits of an early autism diagnosis in your back pocket for any haters who say \u201cbUt ShE\u2019s ToO YoUnG!\u201d<\/p>\n If you missed my previous posts, you can find them here:<\/p>\n Basically, when professionals talk about the benefits of an early autism diagnosis, they are thinking about the benefits of \u201cearly intervention.\u201d The earlier your child receives an autism diagnosis, the earlier they can receive help and support geared at their specific challenges. But for those of us new to the world of an autism diagnosis, it can seem very overwhelming. What exactly does early intervention mean? How does it help? How early is \u201cearly\u201d? And are you doomed if you start \u201clate\u201d? (Spoiler: you\u2019re not.) I break down some of these questions and include some reputable sources for you to do your own research as well \u2013 but take it with a grain of salt, because early intervention can and should look different for everyone!<\/p>\n Confusingly, \u201cearly intervention\u201d can mean more than one thing. In general, it\u2019s a broad phrase that can cover a range of therapies and assistance designed to help your child learn skills, communicate better (if that\u2019s an issue for them), and feel more comfortable in the world around them. However, it\u2019s also a common name for government-funded programs that offer therapy and support to kids with developmental delays and disabilities. (In Texas, it\u2019s called \u201cEarly Childhood Intervention,\u201d but \u201cEarly Intervention\u201d seems to be the more common phrase.) So let\u2019s break it down:<\/p>\n (The gif is a joke \u2014 I\u2019m not a scientist at all.)<\/p>\n The research is all well and good, but here\u2019s my personal take on the benefits of an early autism diagnosis:<\/p>\n And there you have it\u2026four epic posts about our journey to answer questions, help Lina, and ultimately get an autism diagnosis for a toddler at the age of 1. We\u2019re not a typical family, but I hope we can help other \u201catypical\u201d families get the help they need and deserve!<\/p>\n If you found this information helpful, you can subscribe for blog updates below, or follow along on Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Subscribe below to be notified when new posts appear!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n * It\u2019s Salted Caramel. No, it\u2019s Mexican Vanilla. No, it\u2019s Cake Batter. Ahhhh can\u2019t decide.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thekidsarenotonfire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Ive-checked-the-math...all-calculations-point-towards-getting-an-early-diagnosis..png?resize=770%2C514&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nBenefits of an Early Autism Diagnosis: The Research<\/h2>\n
What is \u201cearly intervention\u201d? <\/h3>\n
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How does early intervention help?<\/h3>\n
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How \u201cearly\u201d is \u201cearly\u201d intervention?<\/h3>\n
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Benefits of an Early Autism Diagnosis: My Opinion<\/h2>\n
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