Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterised by qualitative deficiencies in social interaction and in communication, behaviour that is characterised by repetitive stereotyped patterns, and a restricted repertoire of interests and activities. DEVELOPMENT AND CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and diagnosis of this disorder by means of neuropaediatric techniques and procedures plays a decisive role in being able to set up an interdisciplinary therapeutic approach, in which specific early intervention programmes are noted for their effectiveness. The aim of these programmes is to attenuate or eliminate the alterations produced by ASD from the earliest stages of childhood development. But, in addition to attending to the child, interdisciplinary early intervention teams also work with the family and the environment the child lives in. This enables them to implement a joint response that allows for substantial improvements in the competencies that the child can acquire, as well as in the welfare and quality of life of the child and his or her family.