🧩 Autism Early Intervention (ABA Therapy) Simulator

Why Age at Diagnosis Shapes the Whole Trajectory

Earlier screening lets intervention start during peak brain plasticity.

• 18–24 mo: Typical screening age (placeholder figure)
• <3 yr: Early-start window (placeholder figure)
• M-CHAT, ADOS: Diagnostic tools (placeholder figure)
• 0–5 yr: Plasticity peak (placeholder figure)

Screening and diagnostic pathway

Placeholder: earlier screening enables earlier ABA enrollment and better outcomes.

Weekly ABA Hours and Dose-Response

More structured therapy hours per week accelerate skill gains up to a point.

• 20–40 hr/wk: Recommended range (placeholder figure)
• ~10 hr/wk: Minimum effective dose (placeholder figure)
• 1–3 yr: Program duration (placeholder figure)
• >40 hr/wk: Diminishing returns (placeholder figure)

Dose-response relationship

Placeholder: skill gains scale with weekly hours but plateau at high intensity.

Modeling the Cumulative Skill Curve

Age and intensity factors combine into a single growth curve over time.

• Logistic growth: Curve model (placeholder figure)
• Low, steady: Baseline slope (placeholder figure)
• Steep, early: Intervention slope (placeholder figure)
• 0–5 yr: Time horizon (placeholder figure)

Curve construction

Placeholder: combined factor sets curve steepness relative to baseline.

Tracking Communication and Social Skill Milestones

Distinct skill markers light up as the growth curve crosses thresholds.

• Speech/AAC use: Communication marker (placeholder figure)
• Joint attention: Social marker (placeholder figure)
• Reduced behaviors: Behavioral marker (placeholder figure)
• VB-MAPP: Assessment tool (placeholder figure)

Milestone markers

Placeholder: markers appear on the curve as domains reach threshold levels.

Projecting Long-Term Developmental Outcomes

Early, intensive intervention shifts the long-term trajectory upward.

• 4 tiers: Outcome categories (placeholder figure)
• School age: Follow-up horizon (placeholder figure)
• Excellent tier: Best-case gain (placeholder figure)
• Limited tier: No-intervention gain (placeholder figure)

Trajectory projection

Placeholder: combined score maps to a qualitative long-term outcome tier.

Placeholder: earlier plus more intensive intervention yields the best projected outcome.