The L.E.A.R.N. Foundation for Autism

Autism research

• Behavioral Treatment and Normal Educational and Intellectual Functioning in Young Autistic Children

  This 1987 article by Ivar Lovaas reports the results of behavior modification treatment for two groups of similarly constituted, young autistic children. Follow-up data from an intensive, long-term experimental treatment group (n = 19) showed that 47% achieved normal intellectual and educational functioning, with normal-range 1Q scores and successful first grade performance in public schools. Another 40% were mildly retarded and assigned to special classes for the language delayed, and only 10% were profoundly retarded and assigned to classes for the autistic/retarded. In contrast, only 2% of the controlgroup children (n = 40) achieved normal educational and intellectual functioning; 45% were mildly retarded and placed in language-delayed classes, and 53% were severely retarded and placed in autistic/ retarded classes.

• Clarifying Comments on the UCLA Young Autism Project

  The UCLA Young Autism Project, which was primarily responsible for the establishment of ABA as the treatment of choice for autism, has had many critics. In this paper, Ivar Lovaas addresses these criticisms.

• Behavior Analytic and Eclectic Treatment of Autism

  Some providers of autism services believe that combining several different therapy disciplines must be superior to a unified ABA program. This research summary shows that an eclectic approach is less effective than well designed and applied ABA.

• Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children With Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors

  Twenty-four children with autism were randomly assigned to a clinic-directed group, replicating the parameters of the early intensive behavioral treatment developed at UCLA, or to a parent-directed group that received intensive hours but less supervision by equally well-trained supervisors. Outcome after 4 years of treatment, including cognitive, language, adaptive, social, and academic measures, was similar for both groups. After combining groups, we found that 48% of all children showed rapid learning, achieved average posttreatment scores, and at age 7, were succeeding in regular education classrooms.

• Change in autism core symptoms with intervention

  This study compared two intervention approaches, Eclectic-Developmental (ED) and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in very young children with autism/autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nineteen children received ED intervention, using combination of methods. Twenty children received Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) intervention which used behavioral principles.

• National Autism Center Standards Report

  This report provides comprehensive information about the level of scientific evidence that exists in support of the many educational and behavioral treatments currently available for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• National Autism Center Report - background video

  Susan Wilczynski, Ph.D., BCBA, Executive Director of the National Autism Center, talks about the National Standards Project.