Interest in Toys May Predict Success of Autism Home Therapy

March 31, 2011

Tots who played the least seemed to benefit most from parent-guided autism

program, study found

Posted: March 25, 2011

FRIDAY, March 25 (HealthDay News) -- The level of interest toddlers with early

signs of autism show in toys may predict how well they will respond to a

parent-guided treatment program, a new study suggests.

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The study included 51 boys and 11 girls younger than age 2 who met the criteria

for autism disorders. The children were randomly assigned to receive either

standard treatment (the control group) or enrolled in the Hanen's More Than

Words program, which is designed to promote communication, language development

and social skills.

In the program, parents learn ways to help their toddlers communicate, such as

encouraging eye contact and saying simple sentences from the child's

perspective.

Overall, the communication skills of the children in the program showed no

improvement compared to those in the control group.

However, the program did appear to benefit a subset of children. Among toddlers

who played with fewer toys when they were assessed at the start of the study,

those enrolled in the program showed more improvement than those in the control

group. Specifically, they had more instances of making eye contact, pointing or

reaching for items of interest, and showing or giving a toy to a researcher,

according to the report.

This effect lasted for at least four months after the program ended, the

researchers noted.

The study, funded by the Marino Autism Research Institute and the advocacy

organization Autism Speaks, was published online March 22 in the Journal of

Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

" This report adds to our emerging knowledge about which interventions work for

which kids. It will help match children with the right intervention and not

waste time enrolling them in treatments that are not well-suited for them, "

co-author Stone, director of the Autism Center at the University of

Washington, said in a university news release.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about

autism.

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