Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Effectiveness of Joint Attention Intervention in Young Children With Autism - a Randomized Study
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention aimed to increase joint attention in 2-4 year old children with autism. The study will be conducted in mainstream preschools in Norway. The intervention will be implemented by preschool teachers and paraprofessionals supervised by trained counselors.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria for Autistic Participants:

* Diagnosis of autism

Inclusion Criteria for Developmentally Delayed Participants:

* Exhibiting current delays in development

Inclusion Criteria for Participants with Normal Development:

* Exhibiting normal development

Inclusion Criteria for All Participants:

* Overall good health
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of autism
* age 2-4 year old

Exclusion Criteria:

* severe mental retardation
* severe clinical CNS disorders
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Child meets screening criteria for PDD
* Not currently enrolled in a pre-existing intervention program
* Parent is available for intervention
* Child must be ready to start in the Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program (ECPHP) at UCLA

Exclusion Criteria:

* Child does not have other sensory or genetic disorders
* Children already on medication on the outset, although we find few toddlers already on medication when they begin treatment. If children begin medication after treatment commences, then we will keep all informatin and data pertaining to possible medication effects and statistically convey medication use if necessary
* Co-morbidity, participant diagnosed with other diseases
* Family/participant unable to follow-up
D: * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
* There are 3 participant groups in this study.

  * AUT: Children with autism (diagnosed with autistic disorder according to DSM-IV criteria). This group will include children that may be dichotomized as with regression and without regression.
  * DD: Children with nonspectrum developmental delays
  * TYP: Children deemed to be typically developing
  * Accrual numbers are to include 140 children in the AUT group, 50 children in the DD group and 75 children in the TYP group.
* AUT: Children are included if they meet DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder, based on ADI-R and ADOS and clinical judgment. Those meeting research criteria for autism will be included.
* Regression is defined as: Language loss: Loss of at least 3 spontaneously meaningful words (excluding mama or dada) used for at least a month, and lost for at least a month.AND/OR Nonverbal communication/social loss: Loss of more than one nonverbal communicative behavior (e.g. gestures, joint attention, eye contact, imagination, pretend play, sharing, showing, watching children, orienting to name, social smiling, social games, spontaneous imitation of actions, response to social overtures). Although there is overlap in the age period for regression specified in this protocol (regression between 15-30 months) and that described for childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) (the DSM-IV criteria for indicate apparently normal development for the first 2 years after birth ), the criteria for CDD also indicate a diagnosis can only be made if symptoms are not better accounted for by another pervasive developmental disorder such as autism. Symptoms of CDD that separate it from autism include loss of acquired skills in areas such as motor skills and bowel or bladder control, while the focus of the current study is on regression in core symptoms of autism (i.e. socio-communicative skills). Thus, the currently protocol will include children with regression over 2 who meet criteria for autism, but not those who only meet criteria for CDD.
* DD: Developmental scores (Performance Quotient and Verbal Quotient) greater than 1.5 standard deviations below mean on Mullen Scales of Early Learning
* TYP: No diagnosis of developmental delay, and no first-degree relatives with a history of autism spectrum disorders.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Diagnosis of cerebral palsy. For the typical controls only, a history of extremely low birth weight (due to prematurity or intrauterine growth failure).
* If behavioral management issues (e.g. self-injury, aggressiveness) are severe to the extent that the screening protocol was aborted.

Answer: B