The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a comprehensive evidence-based behavioural early intervention program for children with autism.

Best Start Clinic is currently the only provider of the intensive, one on one Early Start Denver Model programs in Australia. Our aim is to follow the program developed by the MIND Institute.

A randomised clinical trial of the Early Start Denver Model, conducted over five years at the University of Washington, found that children in the Early Start Denver Model intervention group on average had a 18 point increase in IQ scores, compared to a four point increase for the children attending community-based therapy programs.

Over two years in an Early Start Denver Model program, receiving 20 hours per week of one on one Early Start Denver Model from trained therapists and their parents, the children had greater improvements in cognitive, language ability and adaptive behaviour, as well as fewer autism symptoms, than the children who received other community-based interventions.

Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that the Early Start Denver Model treatment normalised brain functioning, and is the first study to demonstrate that an autism early intervention program can normalise brain activity. The randomised, case-controlled, multi-centre study found that children who received the Early Start Denver Model exhibited greater brain activation when viewing faces rather than objects, a response that was typical of the typically-developing children in the study, and the opposite of children with autism who received other interventions.

What is the Early Start Denver Model?

The Early Start Denver Model outlines both what and how to teach toddlers with autism.

It integrates a relationship-focused developmental model with the well-validated teaching practices of Applied Behaviour Analysis. It is developed by a trained multi-disciplinary team, including Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Teachers, and Behaviour Analysts, all in strong partnership with families and paediatricians, where required.

The Early Start Denver Model is delivered by Certified Early Start Denver Model therapists. To become certified in the Early Start Denver Model, professionals must work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, hold postgraduate qualifications and a strong background in autism early intervention before training for many months in the treatment delivery and being assessed by ESDM trainers.

For a list of Certified Early Start Denver Model Therapists, click here. Details on the training qualifications and processes can be found here.

Best Start Clinic’s Early Start Denver (ESDM) Programs

Best Start Clinic is passionate about providing quality early intervention programs and improving the outcome for young children with autism. Since 2012, Best Start Clinic has seen exceptional results with the children who have undertaken our Early Start Denver Model programs.

Best Start currently has seven clinicians certified in Early Start Denver Model therapy. Three clinicians are close to certification. The remainder of our therapists are trained to ‘fidelity’ in the Early Start Denver Model, meaning that they receive training and supervision to properly deliver the one on one Early Start Denver Model but are not certified and do not conduct any assessments or treatment decisions. Best Start Clinic also has an on-site Certified ESDM Trainer, one of only three trainers located in Australia.