Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evidence Table. Therapies for children with ASD
Study
Inclusion/Exclusion Baseline
Description Intervention
Criteria/Population Measures Outcomes
N at follow-up:
G1/G2: P < 0.05
G1/G2: P < 0.05
G1: 21
Paternal education, years ±
Adaptive
G2: 21
SD:
Behavior:
G1: 15.8 ± 2.9
VABS composite
G2: 11.8 ± 2.3
score, mean
G1/G2: P < 0.05
change:
Household income: NR
G1: 9 (n=20)
Two parent household, n
G2: -4 (n=20)
(%):
G1/G2: P < 0.01
G1: 21 (100)
Children in the
G2: 14 (67)
average range, n:
G1/G2: P < 0.05
G1: 8
Diagnostic approach:
G2: 3
Referral
G1/G2: P = 0.10
Diagnostic tool/method:
VABS daily living
DSM-IV, ADI-R
skills score,
Diagnostic category, n
mean:
(%):
G1: NR***
Autism:
G2: NR***
G1: 20 (95.2)
G1/G2: P < 0.05
G2: 15 (71.4)
Social skills:
PDD-NOS:
VABS socializa-
G1: 1 (4.8)
tion score, mean:
G2: 6 (28.6)
G1: NR***
Aspergers:
G2: NR***
G1: NR
G1/G2: P < 0.10
G2: NR
Harms:
G1/G2: P < 0.05
NR
Other characteristics:
Modifiers:
NR
NR
Comments: *The difference between groups for change in IQ score was no longer significant when father’s education was
added as a covariate.
**6 children were fully included without assistance, 4 were fading the shadow, and 7 required full shadows.
***data only illustrated graphically.
Author:
Eldevik et al.,
2006
Country:
Norway
Practice
setting:
Academic
Intervention
setting:
School
Enrollment
period:
1993 to 2001
Funding Agency:
Akershus
University
Hospital; Helge
Morset Fond,
Norway; NFBU;
Norwegian Red
Cross & Stiftelsen
Intervention:
Low intensity behavioral
intervention vs. eclectic
treatment
Low intensity behavioral
intervention was approximately
12 hours/week
ABA based on UCLA
model behavior therapy
for a period of 2 years
Eclectic treatment
includes at least 2 of the
following intervention
types: alternative
communication, ABA,
total communication
sensory motor therapies,
programs based on the
principles of TEACCH
Duration of treatment,
months ± SD (range):
G1: 20.3 ± 5.3 (13-28)
Inclusion criteria:
• Diagnosis of autism and
mental retardation by
ICD-10 from a licensed
psychologist and/or a
medical doctor
• Age < 6 years at start of
treatment
• Treatment record indicating
10-20 hours/week
of one-to-one treatment
• Assessments of
intellectual functioning,
adaptive behavior and
language conducted
pretreatment and after
two years of treatment
Exclusion criteria:
• Medical conditions that
could interfere with
treatment, such as
uncontrollable epilepsy
C-269
Educational/
cognitive/
academic
attainment:
Intellectual functioning
(BSID-II,
WISC-R, WPPSI-R,
SB) ratio score,
mean ± SD:
G1: 41.0 ± 15.2
G2: 47.2 ± 14.7
Merrill Palmer nonverbal
intelligence
score, mean ± SD:
G1: 68.2 ± 28.3
(n=8)
G2: 72.0 ± 22.1
Language
comprehension
(RDLS or PEP-R)
ratio score, mean ±
SD:
Educational/
cognitive/
academic
attainment:
Intellectual functioning
(BSID-II,
WISC-R, WPPSI-
R, SB) ratio score,
mean ± SD:
G1: 49.2 ± 16.6
G2: 44.3 ± 18.9
G1/G2: P < 0.001
Merrill Palmer
non-verbal
intelligence score,
mean ± SD:
G1: 76.9 ± 27.2
(n=8)
G2: 61.5 ± 24.5
G1/G2: P = NS
Language
comprehension