THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

This article discusses therapeutic interventions and child development in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), considering that therapeutic care involves different approaches and goals related to communication, social interaction, adaptive behavior, and everyday participation. The objective was to synthesize evidence from the literature on therapeutic interventions commonly discussed in ASD and to analyze their contributions to child development. Methodologically, this is a narrative literature review with a qualitative approach, based on articles, systematic reviews, guidelines, and normative documents on early intervention, evidence-based models, and response variability in children with ASD. The findings indicate that early and structured interventions are associated with gains across different developmental domains, although with significant variability across children and study designs. It also highlights the need for ongoing monitoring, individualized care, and articulation between families and services to sustain progress. The study concludes that therapeutic interventions in ASD can contribute to child development when planned with clear goals and systematic monitoring, acknowledging the heterogeneity of the disorder and the importance of continuity of care.