Parental reports on the efficacy of treatments and therapies for their children with autism spectrum disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) try many and varied interventions and therapies in the hopes of improving their children's outcomes; however, empirical evidence supporting (or opposing) the vast majority of treatments is limited or nonexistent. This study examined caregiver efficacy ratings for a wide range of biological and educational/behavioral treatments commonly used for children with ASD. A web-based questionnaire regarding the development of children with ASD was distributed nationally and internationally through more than 200 autism-support organizations; results were analyzed from 479 parents (91% mothers) who reported on their children with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or PDD-NOS (M age = 8.3 years, 80.2% male). Improvement – whether small or dramatic – was rated for 50–80% of children in each of 9 drug categories, while ratings of “child became worse” were reported for 15–20.3%. Approximately half of children were said to improve while on a special diet; 51% of those on a gluten-free and/or casein-free (GF/CF) diet were reportedly improved, while no observable effects of the GF/CF diet were indicated for about one quarter of participating children. For 10 of the 16 educational/behavioral therapies, parents reported improvement for approximately 70% of children. The most common rating was “child improved somewhat” followed by “child improved dramatically.” Results are discussed relative to the meaning of “improvement” in ASD and in light of both placebo effects and cost of treatments/therapies.