Preventing autism seems possible: a preventive intervention – mediated and guided by the parents – on small children (9-14 months) with some early signs of the disorder, reduces the risk of receiving an autism diagnosis at 3 years of age by three times. This is what has been demonstrated in a randomized clinical trial on 103 babies, conducted at the CliniKids of the Telethon Kids Institute of the University of Western Australia. The trial results will be published this week in the JAMA Pediatrics journal.
The experiment was initiated by Andrew Whitehouse and lasted 4 years; the intervention involved half of the sample of 9-14 month old children who had shown some relational difficulties and behaviors compatible with the autism spectrum syndrome.
“The therapy called Video Interaction to Promote Positive Parenting – explains Whitehouse – uses videos with advice directed to parents to help them understand and appreciate the unique abilities of their children, and to use these points of strength as the basis for their future development “. The therapy was able to act on the relational disorders, repetitive behaviors and other dysfunctional aspects of the children, to the point of reducing the risk of being diagnosed with autism at three years of age by a third. The children will be monitored on a long-term basis to see if the effects of supportive video therapy on parents persist after many years. (HANDLE).
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