The ESDM is the most effective and compassionate approach for young learners. It is a developmentally informed behavioral intervention that focuses on teaching skills through shared engagement, play, and daily routines.
The Early Start Denver Model, or ESDM, is a comprehensive therapy program for children with autism. ESDM is the leading, evidence-based therapy for young learners, aged 1 to 5.
The ESDM is a naturalistic, play-based and comprehensive approach to autism therapy that combines applied behavior analysis (ABA), developmental science, and relationship-based approaches.
It was developed by Sally Rogers and Geraldine Dawson and was named a Top Medical Breakthrough by Time Magazine in 2012.
The ESDM has been shown in high-quality research studies to improve language skills, cognition, social skills, adaptive skills, and behavior in children with autism.
Research studies on ESDM have also shown improvements in brain activity, such as changes on brain wave tests (EEG) when viewing faces and objects.
Early intervention with the ESDM can make a lifelong difference for children with autism yet the model is not widely available.
ESDM and ABA are related. The simplest description is that ESDM is a blending of the principles of ABA along with developmental and relationship science.
Check out this article in our autism Learning Center with more detail on the differences between the two models. The article includes videos on the two models so you can see the differences in action.
Joint activity routines (JARs) are used as the core learning tool in the ESDM.
The ESDM checklist focuses on key skills for young children: communication, social skills, play, dressing, etc.
Teaches children that caregivers are fun and creates a foundation for ongoing learning.
ABA teaching strategies are embedded into JARs for learning
In this video, co-founder Ian Goldstein, MD, offers a brief overview of how Soar approaches autism therapy based on the ESDM.
Sources