A controlled trial of a training course for parents of children with suspected autism spectrum disorder

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a training course for parents, designed to help them understand autism spectrum disorder and to facilitate social communication with their young child. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled trial for 51 children aged 24 to 48 months, whose parents received either immediate intervention or delayed access to the course. Outcome was measured 7 months after recruitment in parents' use of facilitative strategies, stress, adaptation to the child; and in children's vocabulary size, behavior problems, and social communication skills. RESULTS: Taking into account scores at recruitment, child's level of ability, diagnostic grouping, and the interval between assessments, a significant advantage was found for the intervention group in parents' observed use of facilitative strategies and in children's vocabulary size. CONCLUSIONS: The training course is well received by parents and has a measurable effect on both parents' and children's communication skills.