Autistica CEO Jon Spiers sat down with Jonathan Green, Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and Joint Editor of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, to talk about Prof. Green’s recently published research: A Randomised trial of a parent-mediated intervention for infants at high risk for autism – longitudinal outcomes to age 3 years.
This is the earliest intervention study in the world that uses video to provide feedback to parents of babies at family risk of autism.
Discussion
Well done for this study, Professor Green. Results are great. Any intervention is better than no intervention with children at risk. My name is Stella Acquarone, PhD in Psychology and Adult, Child and Parent Infant Psychotherapist at the Parent Infant Centre in London. I have been working since 1980 with clinical research in early interventions with parents concerned with babies with autistic behaviours. I have published with Dr Isabel Jimenez Acquarone my fifth book “Changing Destinies” (2016) with an observational scale for babies and parents showing early signs of alarm which is useful for autistic behaviours. The scale evaluates babies before and after treatment and years later. The book shows 30 cases in a longitudinal study following three or four intensive weeks working with the parents concerned about their infants with autistic behaviours. The program includes the whole family in different combinations including nannies or grandparents, who look after the child. After the intensive program they are seen for a year, one hour a week. Results show complete recovery and enjoyment of mainstream education and development.