Review of evidence of DIR/Flortime™ techniques for intervention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

The techniques of DIR/Floortime™ have taken a certain momentum in our country. The aim of this article is to analyze the evidence on the efficacy of these techniques for which four databases have been searched (PsychArticles, ERIC, PubMed and Medline). After refining the documents found by applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, only 18 empirical studies were detected (7 single case studies, 3 quasi-experimental studies and 6 randomized clinical trials). Two of the studies are re-analyses of previous studies or follow-up studies. Once the different studies have been evaluated, it is concluded that more research is needed on the techniques of DIR/Floortime™. Although the evidence points to the efficacy of parental involvement and soil play techniques, the studies are very heterogeneous and do not allow any meta-analysis of results to show their efficacy.