Progress and outcomes for children with autism receiving parent-managed intensive interventions

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 81 - 104
• Main Authors: Bibby, Peter, Eikeseth, Svein, Martin, Neil T, Mudford, Oliver C, Reeves, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 2002
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; autism; Autistic Disorder - psychology; Autistic Disorder - therapy; Behavior Therapy - methods; Child; Child, Preschool; Early Intervention (Education); Education; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; intensive behavioral treatment; Male; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Parenting - psychology; Parents - education; Referral and Consultation; UCLA model; intensive behavioral treatment; UCLA model; autism
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/S0891-4222(02)00095-1

Parent-managed behavioral interventions for young children with autism are under-researched. We analysed data from 66 children served by 25 different early intervention consultants. After a mean of 31.6 months of intervention, IQ scores had not changed (
N=22). Vineland adaptive behavior scores had increased significantly by 8.9 points (
N=21). No children aged >72 months attained normal functioning, i.e., IQ>85 and unassisted mainstream school placement (
N=42). Progress for 60 children across 12 months was found for mental age (5.4 months), adaptive behavior (9.7 months), and language (5.1 months). The interventions did not reproduce results from clinic-based professionally directed programs. The effectiveness of the parent-managed intervention model as it has developed and the adequacy of professional services in that model are discussed.