NICE also recommends making arrangements to support children with autism and their families at times of increased need, such as starting or changing schools or at the birth of a sibling.
Professor Tim Kendall, consultant psychiatrist and director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, said, ‘The new guideline includes a strong emphasis on good communication and we hope the new recommendations will help professionals to recognise individual needs so the child gets the right support.’
Further research into comprehensive programmes for early interventions to manage the core symptoms of autism in pre-school children is also suggested in the guidelines.
The effectiveness of models such as Learning Experiences – an Alternative Programme for Pre-schoolers and their Parents (LEAP) have been researched in the past, but NICE advocates a more comprehensive study in view of the fact that many children with autism are diagnosed in the pre-school period.
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