Study: Early interest in toys may predict autism in children

A recent study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that a toddler's interest in toys may predict autism treatment effectiveness.

The report examined the Hanen's More Than Words autistic treatment program for children who were younger than age 2 and showed signed of autism spectrum disorder. Researchers measured the toddlers' baseline social and communication skills during a pretest in which parents and their children played with toys and read books while officials observed.

Parents in the treatment group learned strategies to help their toddler communicate. The 32 children in the treatment group showed no greater improvement in communication skills than those in the non-treatment group.

However, kids who played with fewer toys during the pretest showed more improvement if they received treatment than if they did not.

Researchers say that early intervention may assist children who suffer from this disorder. As a result, parents may wish to enroll their child into therapeutic boarding schools in an effort to give them individual therapy to help their communication and social skills.