Researchers said that if parents of autistic children are trained, the techniques that professionals use to relate and communicate with the children can be beneficial.

The report in the Journal of the American Medical Association unveiled that when parents will have the needed skills to take care for autistic children they will be in a better position to handle the behavior and communication aspect in which the children face trouble to express their needs or feelings.

A trial was carried out in which around 200 children aged three to seven and their parents took part. The trial, which was carried out at six sites, is said to be the largest ever of any behavioral intervention method with regard to children with autism.

The participants were divided into two sub-groups. The first sub-group underwent a 24-week training program in which they learnt hands-on techniques like how to use visual hands, how to find out triggers for trouble and which behavior of autistic children needs to be improved and which should be ignored.

The second sub-group was given education information about autism. The researchers came to know that the first sub-group reported a 48% improvement in the behavior of their children. The second sub-group reported a 32% improvement.

After six months, 80% of the children participating at OSU showed significant improvements in behavior and as effectively as the best drugs currently being used to treat autism.

"All behavior serves a person. Sometimes children with autism have behavioral problems because they don't have the communication skills to say what they want", affirmed Kara Reagon of Autism Speaks, who agrees that children with autism can display behavioral problems that can be very challenging for families.