CONCLUSION Non-specialist mediated interventions for autism spectrum disorder demonstrate effectiveness across a range of outcomes for children with autism and their caregivers
INTRODUCTION In recent years , several non-specialist mediated interventions have been developed and tested to address problematic symptoms associated with autism .
These can be implemented with a fraction of cost required for specialist delivered interventions .
This review represents a robust evidence of clinical effectiveness of these interventions in improving the social , motor and communication deficits among children with autism .
A randomized controlled trial of Hanen's 'More Than Words' in toddlers with early autism symptoms.
BACKGROUND This r and omized controlled trial compared Hanen 's ' More than Words ' ( HMTW ) , a parent-implemented intervention , to a ' business as usual ' control group . METHODS Sixty-two children ( 51 boys and 11 girls ; M age = 20 months ; SD = 2.6 ) who met criteria for autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) and their parents participated in the study . The HMTW intervention was provided over 3.5 months . There were three measurement periods : prior to r and omization ( Time 1 ) and at 5 and 9 months post enrollment ( Times 2 and 3 ) . Children 's communication and parental responsivity were measured at each time point . Children 's object interest , a putative moderator , was measured at Time 1 . RESULTS There were no main effects of the HMTW intervention on either parental responsivity or children 's communication . However , the effects on residualized gains in parental responsivity from Time 1 to both Times 2 and 3 yielded noteworthy effect sizes ( Glass 's Δ = .71 , .50 respectively ) . In contrast , there were treatment effects on child communication gains to Time 3 that were moderated by children 's Time 1 object interest . Children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest exhibited facilitated growth in communication ; children with higher levels of object interest exhibited growth attenuation . CONCLUSIONS The HMTW intervention showed differential effects on child communication depending on a baseline child factor . HMTW facilitated communication in children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest . Parents of children who evidence higher object interest  may require greater support to implement the HMTW strategies , or may require different strategies than those provided by the HMTW curriculum
CONCLUSION Non-specialist mediated interventions for autism spectrum disorder demonstrate effectiveness across a range of outcomes for children with autism and their caregivers
INTRODUCTION In recent years , several non-specialist mediated interventions have been developed and tested to address problematic symptoms associated with autism .
These can be implemented with a fraction of cost required for specialist delivered interventions .
This review represents a robust evidence of clinical effectiveness of these interventions in improving the social , motor and communication deficits among children with autism .