Research summaries for autism therapy: pilot study

definition of pilot study: Type of scientific study designed to test the value and logistics of doing a larger study using the same design. Pilot studies usually test a smaller sample size. It is a way for scientists to work out the kinks before doing a larger-scale study. The results of a pilot study might not be conclusive because of the small sample size. The scientists would need to do a larger study in order to test whether the results are valid.
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Children-Robot Interaction: A Pilot Study in Autism Therapy, Summarized Nov 2, 2007

Simple robots may help children with autism learn social skills.

This study looked at whether or not the robot Keepon was able to cause a response in children (2-4 years old) with autism. Keepon has a small snowman-like body. It can only do a few things: turn to look at something, rock, and bob up and down. Although Keepon is a simple robot, children with autism were drawn to it and interacted with it. The authors believe that this supports the idea that children with autism do want to share and exchange mental states. Read more...

24-Hour Provoked Urine Excretion Test for Heavy Metals in Children with Autism and Typically Developing Controls, a Pilot Study, Summarized Aug 3, 2007

This study was designed to see if children with autism have higher body burdens of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) than other children. If the heavy metals were present in children with autism then it might be helpful to get rid of them through chelation therapy. The authors note that there are no standards for how much heavy metals come out in the urine of "normal" children when the children were provoked by DMSA (chelation therapy).... Read more...

Evaluation of a Pilot Clinic-Based Social Skills Group, Summarized May 17, 2007

Social skills therapy that is done in the clinic by occupational therapists and at home by parents can help children with autism make friends.

This pilot study was designed to test whether or not social skills therapy can teach children with autism to make friends, greet friends, and play. The social skills therapy was designed in Singapore and used within the clinic with trained parent support at home. Success was based upon whether or not the parents thought that the children had improved. Unfortunately, the parents watched their children only after the eight social skills therapy sessions had ended (not before). The authors report that the program did help the children learn social skills.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Children with Autism: A Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study, Summarized Apr 23, 2007

Fish oil has been shown to be a helpful therapy for schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and many other disorders. Studies have also found that fish oil can help with behavior, reading, and spelling in children with developmental disorders. This current study was designed to see if fish oil capsules (1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day) could help children with autism. The study had only 13 children who were about 11 years old. All children showed fewer signs of autism when taking fish oil and the only side effects were some mild stomach upset and diarrhea. Read more...

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