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| Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention: Main Findings from the Multisite Young Autism Project |
| Saturday, May 26, 2007 |
| 3:30 PM–4:50 PM |
| Douglas A |
| Area: AUT; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Tristram Smith (University of Rochester Medical Center) |
| CE Instructor: Tristram Smith, Ph.D. |
| Abstract: The Multisite Young Autism Project (MYAP) was designed to evaluate early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for children with autism who are under 3 years old at the onset of treatment. Two sites (Wisconsin Early Autism Project and Central Valley Young Autism Project) have published outcome reports from this project. Sallows and Amerine-Dickens will present long-term follow-up data as well as results from new cohorts at these sites. Larsson will present the results of an A-B-A reversal study at another site (Pittsburgh Young Autism Project) that compared the efficacy of 40 hours per week of treatment to 10 hours or 20 hours. Smith and Eldevik will summarize the full MYAP dataset and describe a meta-analysis of published EIBI studies. |
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| Outcomes in the Central Valley Autism Project and the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. |
| MILA A. AMERINE-DICKENS (Central Valley Autism Project, Inc.), Glen O. Sallows (Wisconsin Early Autism Project), Howard G. Cohen (Valley Mountain Regional Center), Tamlynn Sallows (Wisconsin Early Autism Project) |
| Abstract: Extending the studies reported by Sallows and Graupner (2005, AJMR) and Cohen, Amerine-Dickens, and Smith (2006, JDBP), we report three sets of new findings. First, data from new cohorts seen at the Wisconsin and Central Valley sites are presented and shown to have made improvements comparable to those reported in published studies. Second, follow-ups that were conducted 5 years after the onset of EIBI at the Central Valley site are described. Data indicate that the EIBI group (n = 21) continued to have more favorable outcomes than the comparison group (n = 21). Eight of the EIBI children were fully included in general education (compared to 6 at the Year 3 follow-up), and an additional 2 received only minimal supports. Finally, children who entered EIBI after the age of 3 1/2 years (n = 21) are compared to age- and IQ-matched children who received community services (n = 21), with the EIBI group making larger gains than the comparison group. |
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| Studies of Intensity of Intervention in Replication of the U.C.L.A. Young Autism Project. |
| ERIC V. LARSSON (Lovaas Institute Midwest), Kara L. Riedesel (Lovaas Institute Midwest), Charryse M. Fouquette (Lovaas Institute Midwest/University of Kansas), Melissa J. Gard (Lovaas Institute Midwest) |
| Abstract: Not only do traditional between-group designs yield substantial support for the efficacy of intensive early intervention for autism. Single-subject research also readily supports the value of intensive treatment. Within the field of ABA, there is a great deal of conceptual validity for consistent 24-hour schedules of reinforcement, as opposed to periodic interventions. The present study is of 10 children, each of whom had their weekly hours of treatment systematically manipulated to evaluate the effect of intensity upon various measures of treatment progress. In all measures, acquisition rate, levels of target behavior, rates of appropriate play behavior, and social validity measures, treatment intensity showed a substantial effect. Further replications of this variable, when extended into the 24-hour day through parent-training, continue to substantiate the importance of intensity of treatment in remediating the symptoms of autism. |
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| Overall Results from the Multisite Young Autism Project. |
| TRISTRAM SMITH (University of Rochester Medical Center) |
| Abstract: Eleven sites provided data for the Multisite Young Autism Project. Across sites, a total of 151 children with autism received EIBI and were compared in a quasi-experimental design to 53 age- and IQ-matched children who received community services. Preliminary data analyses indicate that, three years after the onset of treatment, the mean IQ of the EIBI group was 21 points higher than in the comparison group and that the EIBI group also obtained significantly higher scores on measures of adaptive behavior and language. These results add to the evidence base for EIBI and indicate that this intervention can be replicated across sites. |
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| Prediction of Outcome of Early Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism: A Meta-Analysis. |
| SIGMUND ELDEVIK (Center for Early Intervention, Oslo, Norway) |
| Abstract: Intensity of treatment, age and IQ at intake have all been related to outcome of early behavioral treatment for children with autism. In a quantitative review of the literature these variables were correlated against the IQ-change reported after ca 2 years of behavioral treatment. Data from 14 studies with a total of 222 children were included in the analysis. Studies in which children received the highest number of treatment hours obtained far greater IQ change than other studies. There was a moderate positive correlation between mean IQ at intake and IQ change, but no relationship between age at intake and IQ-change was found. No significant correlations were obtained when using data from individual subjects in the analysis. |
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