Effect of play-based communication and behavior intervention on toddlers with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Objective To compare and analyze the short-term effect of play-based communication and behavior intervention (PCBI) and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) on the treatment of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Seventy-four ASD toddlers aged from 19 to 30 months were recruited in Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from November 2017 to May 2018.The toddlers who participated in this study were randomly assigned into PCBI group and ABA group, then they were intervened weekly by PCBI or ABA for a total of 12 weeks.Portage Early Development Checklist and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) were used to estimate the toddlers′ developmental level and the treatment efficacy respectively.The t-test was used to reveal whether there was significant difference between the 2 groups before and after intervention. Results (1)Compared with the ABA group, there was a significant increase in cognitive scores (ΔPCBI=9.03 scores, ΔABA=4.27 scores, t=3.997) and a significant decrease in social behavior scores (ΔPCBI=8.87 scores, ΔABA=16.91 scores, t=-4.022) of the Portage Early Development Checklist after 12 weeks of intervention in the PCBI group, and there were statistically significant differences(all P 0.05). (2)Compared with the ABA group, after 12 weeks of PCBI intervention, the scores of social contact, perception, behavior of ATEC were decreased, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05); the total score of ATEC scale(ΔPCBI total=14.89 scores, ΔABA total=22.22 scores, t=2.209)and the scores of language subscale(ΔPCBI language=2.89 scores, ΔABA language=6.43 scores, t=2.515)were decreased significantly, and there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusions After 12 weeks of the very early intervention of PCBI, the ASD toddlers all improved in clinical symptoms and developmental level.Compared with ABA intervention, PCBI very early intervention with parental guidance was comparable in short term efficacy, and PCBI was not taking up as much medical rehabilitation resources as ABA. Key words: Autism spectrum disorder; Toddler; Very early intervention; Play-based communication behavior intervention; Efficacy evaluation