This study reports the results of a randomized trial for preverbal preschoolers with autism that demonstrates the effects of multiple intervention strategies including caregiver training. About 50% of children with autism are not talking by age 3 and up to 30% of children with autism will remain minimally verbal past age 5. Interventions delivered by clinicians and caregivers have the greatest effects on spoken language and may reduce the rate of those who remain minimally verbal. Sixty-eight children ages 3-5 with autism and their caregivers participated in this randomized trial comparing the communication intervention to a comparison group. A brief, multi-component, communication intervention (including a speech-generating device) for children with autism that addresses core deficits may be effective in improving joint attention skills immediately following intervention and social communication skills 4 months following intervention. Future research is needed to understand for whom and under what conditions this intervention is most effective.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02291172.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorders; communication and language; minimally verbal; parent training; preschool; speech-generating device.