RESUMO
UNLABELLED: There is great demand for effective management of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of an individually tailored psycho-educational program for autistic children on the scores of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP). METHODS: Forty children (36 males) were enrolled into an intervention program which consisted of occupational therapy including sensory integration techniques, speech therapy, social skills therapy and parent-directed approaches. Autism severity was assessed using CARS; sensory response capability with the SSP pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: Eight children were intellectually normal; 12 borderline and 20 of low intelligence. Pre-treatment CARS showed that 8 were mildly autistic, 32 moderately-severely autistic. Post-treatment, 24 children changed category; 11 were no longer autistic. The percentage of children performing in the definitive difference region, according to total SSP score, changed slightly (45% vs 32.5%). Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment values revealed that CARS decreased significantly (p < 0.001), whereas total SSP did not (p = 0.294). Tactile sensitivity and low energy/weakness sections, though, were significantly different pre- and post-treatment. Longitudinal analysis, taking into account other confounding factors besides time, further revealed a significant decrement for CARS score with time but not for SSP score (p < 0.001 and p = 0.288, respectively). Similarly, intelligence levels affected CARS but not SSP values (p < 0.001 and p = 0.813, respectively). CONCLUSION: Individually tailored psycho-educational therapy had a significant effect on autism severity according to CARS. Changes in the SSP scores were not significant.
