A Pilot Trial of a Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Bases (DIR)/Floortime for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a DIR/ Floortime Parent Training Intervention for Pre-school Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Thirty two children age 2-6 years are recruited into the study and the randomization will be stratified for chronological age and symptom severity into 2 main groups, intervention and control. The intervention group will receive an additional target treatment of DIR/Floortime parent training intervention, while the control group will continue on their routine care for 3 months.

Hypothesis: Children in the intervention group show much improvement in climbing the developmental "ladder" and declining in the autistic behaviors.

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