What is intensive interaction?

Intensive interaction is a play-based approach to helping children develop early, pre-speech communication and interaction skills like facial expressions, the ability to copy sounds, and shared attention.

Who is intensive interaction for?

Intensive interaction is for people of all ages who have difficulty communicating, particularly those who aren’t yet using speech and language to communicate.

This includes autistic children, including those who:

• are at an early stage in learning how to communicate
• have some speech but would benefit from developing their communication skills.

What is intensive interaction used for?

Intensive interaction is used to help children learn early communication skills like facial expressions, the ability to copy sounds, and shared attention. It’s claimed that it can also help children learn to build relationships and engage with other people for progressively longer periods in gradually more complex and diverse activities.

Because it helps children build communication skills and relationships, intensive interaction might also indirectly reduce distress and some challenging behaviour.

Where does intensive interaction come from?

Intensive interaction was developed in the 1980s in the United Kingdom by Dave Hewett and Melanie Nind, who were working at the Harperbury Hospital School for children with severe learning difficulties.

What is the idea behind intensive interaction?

Intensive interaction is based on research findings about how parents help babies and young children develop social awareness and learn to communicate in the early years.

What does intensive interaction involve?

The intensive interaction practitioner plays with the child, responding to what the child does by imitating and joining in, much like a parent imitates and takes turns with a baby. The therapist develops the play into activities and games that explore and practise communication skills.

The interaction goes at the child’s pace and follows the child’s interests, and the therapist pauses to watch what the child does next before responding. The session stops when the child has had enough.

To start with, the sessions might last just a few minutes, but they get longer as the child’s skills develop.

Intensive interaction happens whenever there’s a chance to do it. For young children, this might be several times a day as part of their everyday routines, like mealtimes or bath time. Intensive interaction often also happens as part of the child’s day at a specialist school or day centre.

Does intensive interaction help autistic children?

More high-quality studies are needed to find out whether this therapy helps autistic children.

Who offers intensive interaction?

Teachers and other professionals usually do intensive interaction at specialist schools and early childhood education services, but anyone can learn to do it.

You and other family members can use intensive interaction at home, or a professional like a speech pathologist, an occupational therapist, a support worker or a teacher could work with your child.

Where can you find an intensive interaction therapist?

Your state autism association or local council can help you find a therapist or a school that uses intensive interaction.

If you’re interested in using intensive interaction with your child, see your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. They can talk with you about its risks and benefits.

You could also talk about intensive interaction with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.

How are parents involved in intensive interaction?

You can be involved in developing an intensive interaction program with a therapist or teacher, and you can then use the program at home. You can also use videos to learn intensive interaction.

How much does intensive interaction cost?

Intensive interaction usually takes place as part of your child’s day at a specialist school or early childhood education service, so the costs are included in your child’s school or service costs.

You can contact the NDIS to find out whether you can include the cost of intensive interaction in your child’s NDIS plan.

Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.