Benefits of family guidance in communicative difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder

an integrative literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Indirect therapy is a therapeutic intervention approach in which family orientations and training of caregivers are carried out so that their understanding is broadened. This type of intervention is relevant because family members are the people closest to the children, and, through the guidelines, they improve the link and the interaction for the maturation of the child’s functional communication. Objective: To analyze findings about the benefits of familiar orientations, in the communicative difficulties of children diagnosed with ASD. Research strategy: Survey of national and international literature, published in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Original articles published in full from January 1999 to November 2019 were included, with degree of recommendation A, B and C and levels of evidence 1, 2, 3 4, according to the Oxford Center. Results: 934 articles were found, 55 excluded by duplicate and 31 were selected for reading in full. Of these, 15 were considered for analysis of the study. Discussion: Indirect therapy, through family guidance, in the process of rehabilitation of children on the spectrum points out that the work of promoting the development of the communicative skills of children with ASD promotes gains in communication. They also show that an indirect intervention increases the caregivers’ capacity for reflection and self-criticism. Conclusion: The indirect therapeutic process of children diagnosed with ASD provides positive changes in the language development process of these children and there is a direct and positive relationship between family orientation and communicative difficulties in these children.