Parents’ perceptions of early intervention and developmental strategies for children on the autism spectrum

Introduction: Early intervention is a systematicapproach aimed at supporting children with autismspectrum disorder symptoms, helping to minimize thesesymptoms and enhancing developmental potentialfrom prenatal to preschool age.Aim: To survey parents about their methods of obtainingnecessary information for therapies, their awarenessof early intervention, and their opinions on the role ofexercise in their children’s development.Materials and Methods: The study was conductedfrom January to March 2024, involving 36 parents ofchildren with autism spectrum disorder. Participantscompleted an anonymous questionnaire via GoogleForms, including sociodemographic data and questionsrelated to early intervention and exercise.Results: Significant developmental changes in childrenwere observed between the ages of one and two, withspeech absence being the most common initial symptom.The time from recognizing the first symptoms of autismto diagnosis often exceeded one year. Notably, 67%of parents reported familiarity with early intervention,primarily gained through the Internet and discussionswith experts. Parents emphasized the importanceof their involvement in therapy (69%) and expressedsatisfaction with their understanding of therapy benefits(42%).Conclusion: Parents of children with autism spectrumdisorder demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledgeabout therapy methods, early intervention, and theirrole in the therapeutic process, underscoring theirproactive involvement in their children’s development.