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.