According to Bock & Goode (2003), the plasticity of the brain during early childhood allows for the best outcomes when treating the disorder. Because autism is a spectrum disorder some children benefit more from the aforementioned interventions than others. However regardless of the severity of the disorder all children seem to benefit from early diagnosis and early treatment (pg, 254). Conclusion

The purpose of this discussion was to compare and contrast two theoretical models of intervention in Autism. The two models that we reviewed were behavioral and educational. The research suggests that behavioral interventions are amongst the most studied and most effective interventions for those suffering from autism. Behavioral interventions are beneficial because they increase communication, skills and peer interaction. The research also found that educational interventions can be beneficial to those with autism. The types of educational interventions discussed included conductive education and gentle teaching. Both of these types...

Overall it appears that any type of intervention is more likely to be successful if it occurs before the age of five.
Works Cited

Bock, G. & Goode, J. (Eds.). (2003). Autism: Neural Basis and Treatment Possibilities. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Hollander, E. (Ed.). (2003). Autism Spectrum Disorders. New York: Marcel Dekker.

Jacobson, J.W., Foxx, R.M., & Mulick, J.A. (Eds.). (2004). Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities: Fad, Fashion, and Science in Professional Practice. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Schoen, a.A. (2003). What Potential Does the Applied Behavior Analysis Approach Have for the Treatment of Children and Youth with Autism?. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30(2), 125+.

Tilstone, C., Layton, L., Anderson, a., Gerrish, R., Morgan, J., & Williams, a. (2004). Child Development and Teaching Pupils with Special Educational Needs. New York: RoutledgeFalmer.