The first ever study of autism ridden children of below two-and-a-half-years has reported that intervention therapy offered as early as at the age of 18 months can prove highly beneficial in improving symptoms of the condition, as well as improving learning and behavior skills.

The small study, consisting of 48 children, was conducted at the University of Washington and led by Geraldine Dawson, Chief Science Officer of Autism Speaks and former University Professor, in association with Sally Rogers, whose model was used to provide intervention therapy to children.

Although doctors have been saying for some years now that Autism can be diagnosed as early as 12-18 months, what should be done about it had remained unclear until now. The study's findings have, thus, come as a huge relief to both pediatrics and parents.

For the sake of study, children between the ages of 18 to 30 months were divided into two groups, with one group placed on Rogers' "Early Start Denver Model", which is a therapy based on social interaction and increased communication, things which are difficult for Autistic children. After two years, children on the program reported an almost 18 points increase in IQ, compared to the 7 points increase noted in the other group which was assigned to the traditional Autism therapy model.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and has been published in the online edition of Pediatrics, a medical journal.