Research summaries for autism therapy: evidence-based medicine (EBM)

definition of evidence-based medicine (EBM): Medical decisions that are based entirely upon data from well-controlled and well-designed scientific studies. The more positive studies available, the stronger the evidence behind the medicine. Consequently, a few case studies are not considered to be enough scientific evidence to support a therapeutic practice as evidence-based.
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Evidence of Oxidative Stress in Autism Derived from Animal Models, Summarized Jun 9, 2008

Vitamin E may be able to protect against chemical damage that may cause autism.

This study was designed to see if treatment with vitamin E could protect mice from showing signs of autism after being given the chemical valproic acid. One of the tests that the authors used for autism was the ability of the mice to have the reflex to turn their head over when their head was pointed down. They also looked to see if a baby mouse could turn in mid-air when dropped on to a padded surface. They also studied how much the mice moved before and after vitamin E treatment. Taken together, the authors suggest that these measures provide a mouse model for autism. Read more...

Planning a Comprehensive Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Evidence-Based Practices, Summarized Jan 9, 2008

When children with autism enter school it is important to have a thorough understanding of their needs. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law makes it important for schools to have students do better through science-based teaching programs. This means that for each child with autism there should be: thorough planning, follow through, and close monitoring of student progress. This article reviews two models (Ziggurat Model and CAPS) that can be used together to plan school programs for children with autism.... Read more...

State of the Evidence Regarding Complimentary and Alternative Medical Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Summarized Jan 8, 2008

Special education teachers can help parents sort through and select among the many different autism therapies.

This review article describes the research behind complimentary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments for autism. Many doctors do not like the CAM treatments for autism. This is because there is not a lot of research to show that they work. The therapies that have been shown to work are speech therapy, social skills therapy and behavioral therapy (ABA). The author states that facilitated communication and auditory integration training have been shown to not work. Read more...

Investigating the Evidence Base of Social Stories, Summarized May 17, 2007

Social story therapy is used more and more often with children with autism, and there is some research to show that it can help.

This review article describes the studies that have been done to see if social stories are able to help children with autism. Most of the studies found that social stories did help children with autism. Many of the studies, however, did not have controls (children with autism who were not given social story therapy). The authors found that there are many researchers testing to see if social stories work. Future research should include controls and tests to see if children are able to take the lessons from the social stories and apply them throughout the day (generalization).
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Synonyms for evidence-based medicine (EBM) include: evidence, evidence-based, evidence-based teaching, evidence-based therapy, well designed studies, well designed study, well-designed studies, well-designed study
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