黑料吃瓜群网

A parent-led therapy that supports social development can reduce likelihood of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis in children showing early behavioural signs of the condition, according to a study led by at the .

Researchers led by Professor (Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and and Director of CliniKids) studied over 100 infants aged 9鈥�14 months exhibiting early signs of autism.

They found that a clinician diagnosis of autism at age three was only a third as likely in children who received the pre-emptive therapy (iBASIS-VIPP) compared to those who received treatment as usual.

Many therapies for autism tried to replace developmental differences with more 鈥榯ypical鈥� behaviours. In contrast, iBASIS-VIPP sought to work with each child鈥檚 unique differences and create a social environment around the child that would help them learn in a way that was best for them, he said.

鈥淭he use of iBASIS-VIPP resulted in three times fewer diagnoses of autism at age three,鈥� Professor Whitehouse said.

鈥淭he therapy uses video-feedback to help parents understand and appreciate the unique abilities of their baby, and to use these strengths as a foundation for future development,鈥� said Professor Whitehouse.聽This supported聽their later social engagement and other autistic-related behaviours such as sensory behaviours and repetitiveness, to the point that they were less likely meet the 鈥榙eficit-focused鈥� diagnostic criteria for autism.

鈥淲e also found increased parental sensitivity to their baby鈥檚 unique communication and an increase in parent-reported language development. Other general aspects of development were not affected.

鈥淭he children falling below the diagnostic threshold still had developmental difficulties, but by working with each child鈥檚 unique differences, rather than trying to counter them, the therapy has effectively supported their development through the early childhood years.鈥�

The four-year randomised clinical trial enrolled babies aged 9鈥�14 months to investigate the impacts of iBASIS-VIPP. All babies had shown early behavioural signs of autism. Over a period of five months, half received the video intervention, while a control group received current best practice treatment.

Eighty-nine children completed an assessment at the start of the study, at the end of the therapy period and when they were two and three years of age.

This Australian study trialled a parent-mediated therapy, iBASIS-VIPP, which was developed by the study鈥檚 UK collaborators 鈥� Professor Jonathan Green, Dr Ming Wai Wan, Dr Carol Taylor () 鈥� and Dr Vicky Slonims ( part of Guys and St Thomas鈥� 黑料吃瓜群网 NHS Foundation Trust).

A previous UK trial of iBASIS-VIPP, led by Professor Green, had shown similar positive benefits of intervention on social development and behaviour which were sustained after the end of therapy 鈥� but numbers were too small to show if there was an effect on clinical diagnosis.

鈥淎utism is not typically diagnosed until three years of age; however, interventions commencing during the first two years of life, when the first signs of development difference are observed and the brain is rapidly developing, may lead to even greater impact on developmental outcomes in later childhood,鈥� Professor Whitehouse said.

Professor Whitehouse said given the high prevalence of autism worldwide, the implications of the findings were enormous. In Australia, about 2% of all children have an autism diagnosis.

A follow-up of study participants in later childhood, when the behaviours for autism may be more apparent, would be critical to determining the longer-term significance of the video intervention, Professor Whitehouse said.

The study, published in , was funded by the WA Children鈥檚 Research Fund, the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC 鈥� established and supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Program), La Trobe University鈥檚 Understanding Disease Research Focus Area, and the Angela Wright Bennett Foundation.

Collaborating institutions included , The University of Western Australia, , , , the University of Manchester UK, and Evelina London Children's 黑料吃瓜群网, part of Guys and St Thomas鈥� NHS Foundation Trust UK.

Image credit: 漏stock.adobe.com/au/New Africa