A Study of a Developmental,Individual-Difference,Relationship-Bases/Floortime Intervention for Children With Autistic (DIR)

A Study of a Developmental,Individual-Difference,Relationship-Bases/Floortime Intervention for Children With Autistic

A One-year Prospective Follow-up Study of a DIR/ Floortime Parent Training Intervention for Pre-school Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Thirty eight autistic spectrum disorder children age 2-6 years recruited into the study. The new treatment intervention is based on the DIR Model. Parents will be coached at the start and then every 3-4 months for 1 year. Outcome will be measured at the first session and at the end of the study using Functional Emotional Assessment Scale and Childhood Autism Rating Scales, Functional Emotional Level, and parent satisfaction rating. Hypothesis of the study: Children who get additional treatment of DIR/floortime show much improvement in climbing the developmental "ladder" and declining in the autistic behaviors.

Parent will be trained to observe their autistic child's cues, follow their child's lead and techniques to enhance his/her development.

The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) Clinical rating of the children (6 point scale related to Greenspan's six Functional Development Level -FDL) Satisfaction of the effectiveness of the intervention of their child (Six-point Likert scale)

Inclusion Criteria: clinical criteria for Autistic Disorders according to DSM IV child is 2 - 6 years of age Exclusion Criteria: children with additional medical diagnosis (e.g., genetic syndromes, diagnosed hearing impairment, diagnosed visual impairment or seizures) children who are geographically inaccessible for follow-up visits their parents are not literate or known chronic psychiatric or physical illness in the parents