The effectiveness of early intervention programs for children with autism: A one-year follow-up study of intensive behavioural intervention versus preschool integration.

摘要

This study compared 16-month follow-up outcomes for preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who received either community-based Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) programs in their homes or who were integrated into preschool classrooms. Twenty children with ASD, ranging from 23 to 65 months in age, completed the study. Fourteen of the children received IBI home-based programs while six were integrated full-time into preschool classrooms. Full developmental assessments that included standardized tools examining IQ, cognition, language, social skills, adaptive behaviours, and severity of autism were completed for all children at intake and again at follow-up one year later. At follow-up, there were no significant treatment group differences found on any of the developmental assessment tools used. Although the results were not statistically significant, the children in the IBI group averaged 12 months of progress on measures examining global cognitive abilities while the children in the preschool classrooms averaged only 8 months of progress. Furthermore, it was found that all of the children who, at follow-up, were making progress towards overcoming their developmental delays and catching up to their typically developing peers, were in the IBI treatment group.