Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or mostly called as autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction,both verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice signs of autism in the first two years of their child's life. A study shows that this state can be prevented if the parents are trained.
For millions of families around the world, autism models daily challenges in life. Some parents find it very difficult or even impossible to communicate with their own children. They can't even understand how they can identify the world around them. This mental condition can also affect their child's ability to interact with other people or show emotion.
A new study published Tuesday in the Lancet, conducted by researchers at the University of Manchester, King's College London, and Newcastle University. It has shown that parents with autistic children may work with them from aged between two and five to lessen the severity of the signs and symptoms of autism six years later. It can also improve their ability in enhancing social communication and a reduction in repetitive behavior.
Professor Jonathan Green, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Manchester, who led the study said, "The advantage of this approach over a direct therapist-child intervention is that it has potential to affect the everyday life of the child. Our findings are encouraging, as they represent an improvement in the core symptoms of autism previously thought very resistant to change. "
The study focused on children with severe autism, who were often unable to talk to their parents. According to day nurseries, it involved 152 children with autism, with parents participating in 12 therapy sessions over a six-month period. In addition to this, parents agreed to daily 20-30 minute sessions of communication and play activities with their children, and received a further six months of follow-up support following the trial.
As reported by the CNN, during the therapy sessions, parents watched videos of themselves interacting with their child to learn how they could improve and learn to spot when, and how, their child is interacting with them. The aim was "to help adults self-learn and become self-aware."
"When we change the parental interactive behavior, that leads to child initiation with the parent, and that change in child initiation with the parent is related to the child changing symptoms," Green said.
As what the researchers sais, "This is not a cure," this is just a BIG HELP to prevent autism from happening. Although the result gives a very good and positive response that autism in children can be prevented by training parents, still, every parent must see a pediatrician to consult for everything regarding the situation of their child/children.