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Int'l Paper Session - Treatment Effects for Children Who Receive Early Behavioral Treatment |
Sunday, May 29, 2005 |
1:30 PM–2:50 PM |
Stevens 4 (Lower Level) |
Area: AUT |
Chair: Sigmund Eldevik (Center for Early Intervention, Oslo, Norway) |
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Effects of Low-Intensity Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism and Mental Retardation |
Domain: Applied Research |
SIGMUND ELDEVIK (Center for Early Intervention, Oslo, Norway), Svein Eikeseth (Akershus University College, Norway), Erik Jahr (Akershus University Hospital, Norway), Tristram Smith (University of Rochester Medical Center) |
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Abstract: We retrospectively evaluated low-intensity behavioral treatment for children with autism and mental retardation who were under 6 years of age when treatment began. Children were divided into 2 groups based on type of intervention: a behavioral group (n = 13) that received an average of 12.5 hours per week of behavioral treatment and a comparison group (n = 15) that received an average of 12.0 hours per week of eclectic treatment. Children were assessed on intelligence, receptive and expressive language, adaptive functioning and behavioral pathology at pretreatment and 2 years into treatment. The groups did not differ significantly at pretreatment. After 2 years of treatment, the behavioral group made larger gains than the eclectic group in intelligence, receptive and expressive language, communication and pathology scores. However, the gains were more modest than those reported in previous studies with children receiving more intensive behavioral treatment, and it is questionable whether they were clinically significant. |
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First-Year Outcomes of the St. Amant ABA Preschool Program |
Domain: Applied Research |
DANIELA FAZZIO (St. Amant Research Centre), Angela Cornick (St. Amant Research Centre) |
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Abstract: The St. Amant Pre-School ABA Program is a publicly funded home-based program offering 36 weekly hours of one-to-one teaching to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, between ages 2 and 5 at the start of the program. The program aims at designing and implementing highly intensive and structured teaching programs with focus on the acquisition of skills and modification of challenging behaviours. The program is offered for a period of 3 years in which the skills necessary for the expansion to less structured environments is carefully planned according to each child’s abilities. Forty children have completed their first year of intervention. The program curriculum is based on the Assessment of Basic Learning and Language Skills, the ABLLS, and programming focuses in the development of skills based in the analysis of verbal behaviour. Outcomes measured by normative and criterion assessments will be presented in an overall measure as well as by group of participants per entry skill levels (ABLLS). Data indicate every child in the program achieved progress and that amount of progress was consistently related to entry skills in the three main measures: ABLLS, and language and developmental normative assessments. Data also indicate significant improvements in severity range as measured by the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) and discrimination abilities as measured by the ABLA (Assessment of Basic Learning Skills). |
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Targeting Social Communication Skills in Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism or Communication/Expressive Language Delays |
Domain: Applied Research |
SHELLEY JAY MITCHELL (Hospital for Sick Children), Jessica Brian (Hospital for Sick Children), Lonnie Zwaigenbaum (Hamilton Health Sciences Corp.), Susan E. Bryson (IWK Health Centre), Wendy Roberts (Hospital for Sick Children) |
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Abstract: Through an ongoing multi-site early identification project, “Early markers of autism: Prospective study of infant siblings” (Zwaigenbaum, Bryson, Szatmari & Roberts, in progress), we have selected for intervention infants who are showing signs of atypical development as early as 12 months of age. Concerns have generally been identified in the domains of social-communication, expressive language and/or play and behavioural development. We have designed an intervention project to address emerging concerns as early as possible. The intervention model focuses on increasing the frequency of established behaviours, increasing the sophistication of a child’s communicative output mode and/or increasing the complexity of a child’s social communication behaviour. Intervention sessions take place in a clinical setting, with a strong emphasis on parent involvement so that the intervention goals can be targeted throughout the day in the context of naturally occurring infant-parent interactions.The intervention project is being systematically piloted with high-risk infants between 12 and 24 months of age. This paper will discuss process variables and emerging outcome data through a case series presentation. Discussion will include issues of very early identification and the potential impact of earliest intervention on the developmental trajectories of infants at high-risk for developing autism spectrum disorders. |
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