Objectives: To analyse and to compare the extension and speed of the evolutional pattern of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in direct and indirect interventions over only to indirect.
Methods: This study is double-blind randomized clinical trial pilot. The sample was composed of 11 children diagnosed with Autism (6) and Asperger Syndrome (5) patients of the Language and Speech Laboratory – Autistic Spectrum Disorders at Federal University of São Paulo. These children were randomly divided into two groups: Six received both direct and indirect intervention (Therapy Group-TG), and five were receiving exclusively indirect intervention (Parents Orientation Group-OG). We used the following parts of ASIEP-2: Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Sample of Vocal Behavior (SVB) on three occasions: at the beginning, six months later and 12 months later.
Results: We observed there was greater evolution of Therapy Group –TG in the Autism Behavior Checklist and Sample of Vocal Behavior. The mothers and the Speech and Language Therapist perceived behavioral changes. The influence of the multidisciplinary diagnosis, age and measures of the adaptive functioning was analysed. The performance of children with Asperger Syndrome was considered more positive. There was greater evolution in the children with age 73 -120 months, and in the children with normal, mild and moderate adaptive functioning.
Conclusions: In both groups were observed behavioral changes. The tendency of better performance of the children attended in direct and indirect intervention showed that this association was fundamental. The performance of TG in presenting better scores was probably due to the efficacy of the direct intervention, and not to the OG´s parent´s lack of attention in promoting behavioral changes in their children.
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