Impact of Parental Coaching on the development of early childhood children with warning signs for Autism Spectrum Disorder

INTERVENTION: L01.224.230.110.500.688 M01.085 This is a two‐arm, single‐blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were 29 children with warning signs for Autism Spectrum Disorder aged 16 to 30 months, male and female, and their parents. Participants were allocated from simple randomization into the Experimental Group (EG=15) and the Control Group (GC=14). Experimental Group: parents received the parental coaching in a group, in 16 weekly sessions of 2 hours each. Control group: Parents were on the waiting list to receive the intervention at the end of the study. The participants' evaluations took place before and after the intervention with the instruments: Bayley Child Development Scales 3rd edition, Autism Behavior Checklist, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale 2nd edition, ESDM Curriculum Checklist, ESDM Fidelity, World Health Organization's Quality of Life and Hamilton Scales of Anxiety and Depression. CONDITION: Autism Spectrum Disorder F03.625.164 PRIMARY OUTCOME: Expected outcome 1: The parenting intervention based on the Early Start Denver Model is expected to positively alter the cognitive, motor, socioemotional, language and adaptive behavior of children with early childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder warning signs Outcome found 1: It was observed that the parental coaching based on the Early Start Denver Model resulted in significant improvements in the motor, socio‐emotional, language and adaptive behavior development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder warning signs SECONDARY OUTCOME: Expected outcome 2: The participation of mothers in targeted intervention is expected to improve their quality of life and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression Outcome found 2: It was observed that the participation of mothers in the oriented intervention significantly improved their quality of life and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression INCLUSION CRITERIA: Children with warning signs for Autism Spectrum Disorder with scores greater than 7 on the M‐CHAT‐R/F; both genders; age range from 16 to 30 months; parents/caregivers willing to participate in the study