What is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Assessment?
The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) assessment plays a vital role in shaping your child’s personalised autism therapy program. At OneOnOne Children’s Therapy, our Certified ESDM Therapists use this assessment as the foundation for creating a tailored program. This approach builds on your child’s existing skills and helps develop new ones, ensuring the therapy addresses your child’s individual developmental needs.
The Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist
The ESDM Curriculum Checklist is central to the assessment process. The assessment follows a play-based approach where therapists engage with children through toys and activities that spark their interest. While your child plays, the therapist evaluates their developmental abilities using the checklist, which consists of 480 curriculum items across four levels. This thorough evaluation allows us to track your child’s progress and adjust their therapy program to target key areas for improvement.
Areas Assessed in the Early Start Denver Model
During the ESDM assessment, we evaluate your child across multiple developmental areas:
- Receptive Language: Understanding what others say.
- Expressive Language: Communicating using words, sounds, and sentences.
- Imitation: Copying actions, gestures, and words.
- Play Skills: Engaging in various types of play and using toys appropriately.
- Joint Attention: Sharing focus on objects or activities with another person.
- Social Skills: Interacting with peers and adults and understanding social cues.
- Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving, understanding concepts, and thinking.
- Fine Motor Skills: Using small muscles for tasks like grasping objects or manipulating tools.
- Gross Motor Skills: Coordinating large muscles for activities like running or jumping.
- Behaviour Management: Regulating emotions and behaviours across different situations.
- Personal Independence: Carrying out daily tasks such as dressing, eating, and hygiene independently.
Our Certified ESDM Therapists use this assessment data to create a targeted plan of goals and objectives that align with your child’s unique developmental profile.
How Do We Choose Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Goals?
After the assessment, we set individualised goals for your child based on their current abilities. We choose goals starting at the developmental level where your child requires the most support. These goals may range from Level 1 to Level 3, depending on your child’s progress.
For each goal, therapists create specific teaching steps to track progress and ensure continuous development. Parents are actively involved throughout the process and can witness their child’s progress after every session. A goal is considered achieved when your child demonstrates the skill 80% of the time across different settings on three consecutive occasions.
About the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a highly regarded, evidence-based early intervention program designed specifically for children aged 12 to 60 months with autism. This play-based therapy focuses on improving social, communication, and cognitive skills. Over 30 years of research back the effectiveness of the ESDM in helping young children with autism make meaningful progress.
At OneOnOne Children’s Therapy in Bondi Junction and Mascot, we take pride in delivering ESDM therapy with the highest level of fidelity. Our clinic was among the first in New South Wales to offer this innovative approach, and we have grown to become the largest ESDM clinic in the state. Our team includes Certified ESDM Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Psychologists, all working together to provide a comprehensive and supportive environment for each child.
Why Choose ESDM at OneOnOne Children’s Therapy?
Choosing the right autism therapy is critical for your child’s development. We offer ESDM therapy because it is proven to be one of the most effective early intervention approaches for young children with autism. With a child-centered, play-based focus, ESDM helps your child make progress in essential areas like communication and social interaction.
Key benefits of choosing ESDM at OneOnOne Children’s Therapy include:
- Play-Based Learning: Children stay engaged through fun and interactive play.
- Personalised Therapy Plans: We tailor the program to meet your child’s unique developmental needs.
- Parent Involvement: Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing skills learned during therapy at home.
- Continuous Progress Monitoring: Data from each session allows us to track progress and make necessary adjustments.
- Certified Therapists: Our team is highly trained and certified to deliver ESDM therapy at the highest standard.
We’re Here to Support You
At OneOnOne Children’s Therapy, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our Bondi Junction and Mascot clinics provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children can discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and thrive. We offer a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to autism therapy in Sydney, combining ESDM, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology to support children and their families at every stage of their journey.
Reach Out for Support
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Wondering if ESDM therapy could help? Our team at OneOnOne Children’s Therapy is here to provide the support and guidance you need. We offer ESDM assessments and therapy at both our Bondi Junction and Mascot clinics.
Call us at (02) 8065 7837 or send us an email to book a consultation. Together, we’ll create a personalised plan that addresses your child’s needs and goals.
Our dedicated team of Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Certified ESDM Therapists, and Psychologists is committed to providing top-quality care for children with autism, developmental delays, and learning difficulties.
