Orientation to mothers of children of the autistic spectrum about language and communication.

PURPOSE To verify the results obtained by ten sessions of specific instruction about language and communication to mothers of children of the autistic spectrum. METHODS Subjects were 26 mother-child dyads. The children attended language therapy in a specialized service. Five pre-planned instruction sessions and five accompanying sessions to small groups of mothers parallel to the children's language therapy were conducted. RESULTS The focus directed to the child's communication allowed the identification of essential elements to the determination of successful interactive situation as joint attention, latency to answers and child's individual interests. The individualized analysis has shown that all subjects presented progress at least in one of the assessed areas. CONCLUSION There was a positive impact of the systematic orientations to mothers about language and communication, conducted at the same time as language therapy (and not alternatively). The formal planning and recording were flexible enough to allow adjustments to group specific needs and demands.