An Australian trial showing pre-emptive intervention in infancy can reduce autism diagnoses in high-risk children is a world first.

The research team found their new therapy, which is designed to help parents better understand and respond to the communication cues of their babies at one or two years of age, significantly decreased children’s autism-related behaviours.

Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the study also showed children in the intervention group were two-thirds less likely to receive an autism diagnosis by the age of three.

Study lead Professor Andrew Whitehouse, professor of autism research at the Telethon Kids Institute and University of WA, Perth, explains the significance of the therapy and why it shouldn’t be seen as a cure.