Using a Music Therapy Collaborative Consultative Approach - World ...

Autistically Handicapped, 2003b, Kraus, 2002). Some of these treatments have been tested
and proven effective, while others have not. Controversy remains over some outcomes and
methodology, and thus for no statistically significant improvements in the core symptoms
have been found (ASA, 2003; National Research Council, 2001).
2.2.3.2 Educational and Behavioral Approaches and Programs
As evident in the autism literature, educational and behavioral interventions are
currently the most effective and most commonly used approaches in the U.S. for treating
children with autism (Cambell et al., 1996; Dalldorf, 2002b; Green 1996). A variety of
intervention practice research (as reviewed in Wolery & Garfinkel, 2002) and the evaluation
of intervention programs (as reviewed in Dawson & Osterling, 1997; Handleman & Harris,
2001; National Research Council, 2001; Smith, 1999) can be found in the literature. A large
body of research has demonstrated significant improvement in the key areas, including social
skills (as reviewed in Hwang & Hughes, 2000; McConell, 2002; Pollard, 1998), language
and communication abilities (e.g., Buffington et al., 1998; Keen, Sigafoos, Woodyatt, 2001;
Koegel, O’Dell & Koegel, 1987) and behaviors (e.g., Koegel et al., 1992; Morrison &
Rosales-Ruiz, 1997) in relative short time periods when appropriate services, training and
information were provided. The committee on educational intervention for children with
autism (National Research Council, 2001) states: “Research is under way to predict
responders and non-responders to medication and to determine which child will benefit from
behavioral treatment alone and what combinations of medication and behavioral treatments
are most effective” (p. 130).
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