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document
A new social communication intervention for children with autism : pilot randomised controlled treatment study suggesting effectiveness . BACKGROUND Psychosocial treatments are the mainstay of management of autism in the UK but there is a notable lack of a systematic evidence base for their effectiveness . Randomised controlled trial ( RCT ) studies in this area have been rare but are essential because of the developmental heterogeneity of the disorder . We aimed to test a new theoretically based social communication intervention targeting parental communication in a randomised design against routine care alone . METHODS The intervention was given in addition to existing care and involved regular monthly therapist contact for 6 months with a further 6 months of 2-monthly consolidation sessions . It aimed to educate parents and train them in adapted communication tailored to their child 's individual competencies . Twenty-eight children with autism were randomised between this treatment and routine care alone , stratified for age and baseline severity . Outcome was measured at 12 months from commencement of intervention , using standardised instruments . RESULTS All cases studied met full Autism Diagnostic Interview ( ADI ) criteria for classical autism . Treatment and controls had similar routine care during the study period and there were no study dropouts after treatment had started . The active treatment group showed significant improvement compared with controls on the primary outcome measure -- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ( ADOS ) total score , particularly in reciprocal social interaction -- and on secondary measures of expressive language , communicative initiation and parent-child interaction . Suggestive but non-significant results were found in Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales ( Communication Sub-domain ) and ADOS stereotyped and restricted behaviour domain . CONCLUSIONS A Randomised Treatment Trial design of this kind in classical autism is feasible and acceptable to patients . This pilot study suggests significant additional treatment benefits following a targeted ( but relatively non-intensive ) dyadic social communication treatment , when compared with routine care . The study needs replication on larger and independent samples . It should encourage further RCT designs in this area .
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Intervention_Educational
social communication intervention
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Intervention_Educational
social communication intervention targeting parental communication
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Intervention_Control
routine care alone .
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Intervention_Educational
intervention
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Intervention_Other
existing care
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Intervention_Educational
regular monthly therapist contact
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Intervention_Educational
treatment
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Intervention_Control
routine care alone
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Outcome_Mental
measure -- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ( ADOS ) total score , particularly in reciprocal social interaction -- and
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Outcome_Mental
expressive language , communicative initiation and parent-child interaction .
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Outcome_Mental
Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales ( Communication Sub-domain ) and ADOS stereotyped and restricted behaviour domain .
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Participant_Condition
children with autism :