Research: Early Intensive Behavioral Treatment: Replication of the UCLA Model in a Community Setting

Authored by Cohen, H., Amerine-Dickens M., and Smith T. in J Dev Behav Pediatr., Volume 27, Issue 2 (Suppl), p. S145-S155, (2006).

Article summary (posted Oct 21, 2006):

This study shows that applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an effective treatment for children with autism, even in a non-university setting.

The authors compared two groups of children with autism: one that received intensive ABA treatment (35 to 40 hours per week) in a behavior clinic; and another in special education classes in public schools. After three years of treatment, the 21 children in the intensive ABA treatment group had significantly higher IQ and behavior scores than the 21 children in the other group. More children in the intensive ABA group than in the comparison group were able to be included in regular education classrooms with or without support (17/21 vs. 1/21). One of the problems with this study is that the treatments in the comparison group were very eclectic. Therefore, if one of them were effective, the effects of that single treatment would be overshadowed by the other treatments received by the children in this group. The authors conclude that intensive ABA treatment for children with autism, even when provided in a community clinic, is more effective than eclectic treatment.

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You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
applied behavior analysis (ABA), autism, classroom, eclectic treatment, education, intensive, public school, school, special education, treatment
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