Pre-emptive intervention during infancy reduces the likelihood of autism diagnosis

A parent-led therapy that supports the social development of babies displaying early signs of autism has significantly reduced the likelihood of an autism diagnosis being made in early childhood, according to world-first research led by CliniKids atthe Telethon Kids Institute.

In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, an international research team led by Professor Andrew Whitehouse (Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research atTelethon Kids and The University of Western Australia and Director of CliniKids) found that aclinician 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.

The findings were the first evidence worldwide that a pre-emptive intervention during infancy could lead to such a significant improvement in children's social development that they then fell below the threshold for a clinical diagnosis of autism.

The use of iBASIS-VIPP resulted in three times fewer diagnoses of autism at age three. No trial of a pre-emptive infant intervention, applied prior to diagnosis, has to date shown such an effect to impact diagnostic outcomes –until now."

Andrew Whitehouse, Professor, Telethon Kids Institute

Professor Whitehouse said many therapies for autism tried to replace developmental differences with more 'typical' behaviors. Incontrast, iBASIS-VIPP soughtto work with each child's unique differences and create a social environment around the child that wouldhelp them learn in a way that was best for them.

"The 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," Professor Whitehouse said. "By doing so, this therapy was able to support their later social engagement and other autistic-related behaviors such as sensory behaviors and repetitiveness, to the point that they were less likely meet the 'deficit-focused' diagnostic criteria for autism."

"We also found increased parental sensitivity to their baby's unique communicationand an increase in parent-reported language development. Other general aspects of development were not affected." The children falling below the diagnostic threshold still had developmental difficulties, but by working with each child's unique differences, rather than trying to counter them, the therapy has effectively supported their development through the early childhood years."

The four-year randomised clinical trial enrolledbabies aged 9-14 months to investigate the impacts of iBASIS-VIPP. All babies had shown early behavioral 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. Identification, assessments and interventions took place in Perth as a collaboration between Telethon Kids and the Child Development Service, which is part of the Child and Adolescent Health Service, and in Melbourne at La Trobe University, led by Associate Professor Kristelle Hudry.

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

"This is a genuine landmark moment for child health research. Our aim is to understand each child's strengths and challenges so that we can better support and nurture the unique abilities they bring to this world." This is an important step forward in what we hope is an opportunity to develop new clinical models that use very early intervention in babies showing early behavioral signs of autism."

Professor Whitehouse said follow-up of study participants in later childhood, when the behaviors for autism may be more apparent,would be critical to determining the longer-term significance of the video intervention.The study was funded by the WA Children's Research Fund, the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC –established and supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Program),La Trobe University's Understanding Disease Research Focus Area, and the Angela Wright Bennett Foundation.