EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES FOR SUPPORTING AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN THE UK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: This systematic review examines the effectiveness of early intervention programmes in supporting autistic children in the United Kingdom. While international literature suggests that early intervention can improve communication skills, adaptive functioning, and family wellbeing, there remains limited synthesis of UK-specific evidence evaluating the effectiveness of early intervention programmes across healthcare, educational, and community service contexts. The aim of the study was to critically evaluate UK-based evidence on early intervention approaches and their impact on developmental, behavioural, and family-related outcomes.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted across three electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCOhost, and JSTOR. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure a transparent and rigorous methodology. A total of 277 records were identified, with 15 studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening and eligibility assessment. Included studies comprised randomised controlled trials, feasibility studies, cross-sectional study, longitudinal observational study, and economic evaluations.
Results: The findings indicate that early intervention programmes are associated with improvements in social communication, behavioural regulation, sleep outcomes, and caregiver wellbeing. Parent-mediated interventions emerged as particularly effective, enhancing both child development and parental confidence. Communication-focused and school-based interventions also demonstrated positive outcomes, while targeted interventions addressed specific functional challenges such as sleep and feeding difficulties.
Conclusion: The review highlights the importance of early, accessible, and family-centred intervention within the UK context. The findings support current policy frameworks emphasising early identification and multi-agency collaboration. Further research is recommended to examine long-term outcomes and improve consistency in evaluation methods.