The rationale, development, and feasibility of a very early prediagnostic intervention for infants at elevated likelihood of autism

This thesis presents a systematic examination of the rationale, acceptability, and feasibility of aparent-mediated pre-diagnostic intervention for infants at elevated likelihood of autism. The fourstudies presented make significant and novel contributions towards our understanding of autism inthe first 6-months of life, examining: early behavioral manifestations of autism; the lived experienceof parents of autistic children; and the rationale for, development, and assessment of a pre-diagnosticintervention for infants. Together, these studies provide support and direction for the implementationof interventions in early life, to better meet the developmental needs of infants at elevated likelihoodof autism.