Paradoxes of progress on autism | Letter

Prof Jonathan Green and Prof Andrew Whitehouse explain some of the implications of their autism therapy trial

James Cusack's piece on the results of our new autism therapy trial (A new therapy for children who may have autism risks carrying a hidden cost, 22 September) points out some paradoxes of progress, and the need for ongoing conversation.

This therapy works with parents (not the infant at all) to help their awareness and responsiveness to infant differences in communication, restoring a synchrony" in their reciprocal interaction - the theory being that positive developmental outcomes will naturally flow. And this indeed is what we find happens. Contrary to any sense of opposing" autism, it cherishes neurodiversity by attending to and understanding it, giving equal opportunity to these infants for an adapted and responsive social environment. The positive developmental outcomes we see are simply a consequence of getting this early communication right; the infant is able to benefit like any child from an adapted social environment. The children continued to be neurodivergent with developmental difficulties but these were more likely to be reduced below a clinical autism threshold.