Autism treatment works in kids as young as 18 mos.

[Guest guest]

This just in.

Autism treatment works in kids as young as 18 mos.

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner – Mon Nov 30, 3:12 am ET

CHICAGO – The first rigorous study of behavior treatment in autistic children as

young as 18 months found two years of therapy can vastly improve symptoms, often

resulting in a milder diagnosis.

The study was small — just 48 children evaluated at the University of Washington

— but the results were so encouraging it has been expanded to several other

sites, said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of the advocacy group Autism

Speaks. Dawson, a former University of Washington professor, led the research

team.

Early autism treatment has been getting more attention, but it remains

controversial because there's scant rigorous evidence showing it really works.

The study is thus " a landmark of great import, " said Tony Charman, an autism

education specialist at the Institute of Education in London.

There's also a growing emphasis on diagnosing autism at the earliest possible

age, and the study shows that can pay off with early, effective treatment, said

Schreibman, an autism researcher at the University of California at San

Diego.

The National Institute of Mental Health funded the study, which was published

online Monday in Pediatrics.

Children aged 18 months to 30 months were randomly assigned to receive behavior

treatment called the Early Start Denver model from therapists and parents, or

they were referred to others for less comprehensive care.

The therapy is similar to other types of autism behavior treatment. It focused

on social interaction and communication — which are both difficult for many

autistic children. For example, therapists or parents would repeatedly hold a

toy near a child's face to encourage the child to have eye contact — a common

problem in autism. Or they'd reward children when they used words to ask for

toys.

Children in the specialized group had four hours of therapist-led treatment five

days a week, plus at least five hours weekly from parents.

After two years, IQ increased an average of almost 18 points in the specialized

group, versus seven points in the others. Language skills also improved more in

the specialized group. Almost 30 percent in the specialized group were

re-diagnosed with a less severe form of autism after two years, versus 5 percent

of the others. No children were considered " cured. "

Ashton Faller of Everett, Wash., got specialized treatment, starting at age 2.

" He had no verbal speech whatsoever, no eye contact, he was very withdrawn, "

recalled his mother, Faller.

Within two years, Ashton had made " amazing " gains, she said. Now almost 6, he's

in a normal kindergarten class, and though he still has mild delays in social

skills, people have a hard time believing he is autistic, Faller said.

The treatment is expensive; participants didn't pay, but it can cost $50,000 a

year, Dawson said. Some states require insurers to cover such costs, and Autism

Speaks is working to expand those laws.

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" No children cured " would make sense to me, as with our situation (with real

autism?) and we *really* don't know (or logically could know?) what the outcome

would have been for our son if we didn't do what we did for our son, because,

you can't do a controlled double-blind peer-reviewed study with an " individual! "

('cause, you can't have a control for that, Hello, to answer to any

" comparative " issues [between us?] in that respect.. .) but group research and

studies are *always* appreciated! Yes (in the matter of pursuing " justness " if

not health) as much alike as we are or can be in that respect.. I still believe

I'm one of the few who emphasize that fact, (for justness first, Thereof!) and

promote science as I do, of the facts, Thereof [Doh?!. By what you feel by these

facts?!. Thereof (. (of that/this sort " research " ..

Do what you can, where " Communication " really is the only primary facts we get

to evaluate for our selves, *I'd say,* of as much, of The analysis.. Where you

can say that you're as good as you can be?!. Something like that, I'd be

feeling, and more sure about, if not " very " sure about.. .

I'd take $10,000 to do what I can with my child at 2-years-old over $100,000 for

what I could do with him at 21-years-old [unless I was a cheat?] if you know

what I mean... but I didn't even have that when he was 2-years-old, really! (I

could have begged, I suppose, that I knew then what I know now?!.) Nor did it

seem we " all " were smart enough to know what justness was when our son was

2-years-old... nor do we seem to know what justice is now! (so much?) is my

sense of It, now that I feel older and wiser in that respect of this... (of the

better good I can do now and feeling I am doing now (!

Of an extension of as much, perhaps, do you think? .. .

Of, I am working on It " now, " if not still, as best I can, of the situation,

with what I've got for when to be doing it, as always! (of being touched by an

angel, perhaps). There's much to do in that respect, where " Justness " be The

thing, where " individualized " anything, if not everything, would be about as

much? do you think? I Feel as understand.. Perhaps I've touched you in that

respect

Here's more than hoping so!

BWT.

Where the support is needed more earlier than latter.. . so " what " with higher

education, otherwise.. .

[Guest guest]

It's so unfair to " random others " I hope that their parents use this study to

advocate for services for them. Of course I'm happy for the parents who get

services but it brings back sad memories of 20 years ago " its too early, wait

and see, there's nothing proven... " Oh, well, won't let it overtake me. We need

our energy to start over with the battle for adult services Right!

Thais

[Guest guest]

It's so unfair to " random others " I hope that their parents use this study to

advocate for services for them. Of course I'm happy for the parents who get

services but it brings back sad memories of 20 years ago " its too early, wait

and see, there's nothing proven... " Oh, well, won't let it overtake me. We need

our energy to start over with the battle for adult services Right!

Thais