- Name: Arjun M. (Name changed for confidentiality)
- Age: 3 years 6 months
- Gender: Male
- Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – Mild to Moderate Level 1
- Referred by: Pediatric Neurologist
Background Information
Arjun was brought to the centre because he rarely responded to his name, avoided eye contact, and communicated mainly by pulling his mother’s hand toward desired objects. Parents also reported repetitive play with toys (spinning wheels, lining up cars) and limited speech development.
Birth and medical history were uneventful, and hearing screening results were normal. Arjun stayed mostly at home with limited peer interaction.
Assessment Findings
Developmental Profile Assessment:
- Social Interaction: Limited joint attention; minimal imitation of actions.
- Communication: Expressive and receptive language both delayed; used a few single words inconsistently.
- Behaviour: Repetitive play, occasional hand-flapping, distress with changes in routine.
- Sensory Processing: Hyper-sensitive to loud sounds; enjoyed visual patterns.
- Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor skills within functional limits.
Screening Tools Used:
- Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
- Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA)
Therapy Plan
Goals:
Intervention Strategies:
Progress Over 6 Months
- Increased attention span from 2 to 8 minutes per activity.
- Responded to name in 80 % of sessions.
- Began using 2–3 word phrases (“want car,” “mummy come”).
- Demonstrated improved tolerance to mild noise.
- Showed early cooperative play with peers.
Outcome
After six months of consistent multidisciplinary therapy (speech + occupational + behavioural), Arjun showed remarkable improvement in communication, play participation, and social engagement. Parents continued weekly follow-ups and home carry-over programs.
Therapist Remarks
“Early identification and consistent, structured intervention are vital in autism. With supportive parents and a coordinated therapy approach, every small step becomes meaningful progress.”
