Parents' Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Olivia J Lindly, Sheryl Thorburn, Karen Heisler and 2 others
PMID 29243100WHAT IT FOUND
44.9% of surveyed children with autism used complementary health approaches.
Parents were more likely to use them for younger children, when they believed autism had major life consequences, in Denver or Portland, and when medication was also used.
Key findings
0144.9% of children with autism used one or more complementary health approaches, and most used only one.
02In adjusted analysis, child age, belief that autism has major life consequences, study site, and medication use were the only factors significantly associated with complementary health approach use.
03Interviewed parents described using complementary approaches because they believed they were safer than conventional treatments, especially medication, and could improve their child's symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study measured use and associated factors at one time, so it cannot show that these factors caused parents to use complementary approaches. The survey was not originally designed to focus on complementary health approaches, and some reported vitamins or supplements may have been medically indicated rather than chosen as complementary care. Parents who completed the survey by mail may have reported less complementary health approach use than those who completed by telephone. Interview parents were mostly from Portland and Denver, had used complementary approaches, were English-speaking, and were mostly white, employed, and highly educated, so their views may not represent all families. No child or provider perspectives were included.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that complementary health approaches improve autism symptoms. This study reports parents' use, beliefs, and factors associated with use, not child outcomes from the approaches.