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document
A pilot randomised control trial of a parent training intervention for pre-school children with autism . Preliminary findings and methodological challenges . Few attempts have been made to conduct randomised control trials ( RCTs ) of interventions for pre-school children with autism . We report findings of a pilot RCT for a parent training intervention with a focus on the development of joint attention skills and joint action routines . Twenty-four children meeting ICD-10 criteria for childhood autism ( mean age = 23 months ) were identified using the CHAT screen and randomised to the parent training group or to local services only . A follow-up was conducted 12 months later ( mean age = 35 months ) . There was some evidence that the parent training group made more progress in language development than the local services group . However , the present pilot study was compromised by several factors : a reliance on parental report to measure language , non-matching of the groups on initial IQ , and a lack of systematic checking regarding the implementation of the parent training intervention . Furthermore , three parents in the local services group commenced intensive , home-based behavioural intervention during the course of the study . The difficulties encountered in the conduct of RCTs for pre-school children with autism are discussed . Methodological challenges and strategies for future well-designed RCTs for autism interventions are highlighted .
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Intervention_Educational
parent training intervention
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Intervention_Educational
parent training intervention
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Intervention_Educational
parent training
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Intervention_Control
local services
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Intervention_Educational
home-based behavioural intervention
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Outcome_Mental
language development
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Participant_Condition
pre-school children with autism
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Participant_Condition
pre-school children with autism
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty-four children
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Participant_Condition
meeting ICD-10 criteria for childhood autism
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Participant_Age
( mean age = 23 months )