Autism/ADHD News stories, Technology, breakthroughs, treatments
Study Reveals Children Recover From Autism With Intensive Three-Year Behavioral Therapy
Main Category: Autism
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 13 Nov 2010 - 1:00 PST
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A landmark study proves that children are capable of recovery from autism,
or of making substantial gains in cognitive and adaptive functioning,
as well as language skills, according to results released last night by
Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, founder of the Center for Autism and Related
Disorders, Inc. (CARD).
The three-year study, which the State of Arizona funded and CARD, the
world's largest provider of early intensive behavioral intervention for
children with autism, conducted, evaluated the effects of behavioral
intervention for 14 young children with autism using a version of
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that blends structured teaching with
play-based behavioral intervention. Today, 43 percent of the study's
participants no longer display clinical symptoms of autism and most of
the participants demonstrate significant improvements in functioning.
In accordance with previous research, CARD found that many of the
children made substantial gains in cognitive and adaptive functioning,
as well as language skills. Most of the children also demonstrated
significant improvements in executive functioning. After treatment, the
average T-score for the group on the BRIEF, a measure of overall
executive functioning, was 61, well below the cut-off for clinically
significant impairment. In addition, 8 out of 14 children were
functioning in the average range on the Vineland ABC, a measure of
overall adaptive functioning, whereas only 2 of 14 were in the average
range before treatment began.
"Years ago, some doctors would tell parents that they should
institutionalize their children after an autism diagnosis," said Dr.
Granpeesheh. "Today, we know that autism is treatable and recovery is
possible with the right services. Every child deserves a chance to learn
and grow, and we hope that these results provide hope to families of
newly diagnosed children."
Among the study's major findings is that children who developed language
skills early in therapy made greater gains over time. The children who
did not recover from autism still made substantial gains in their
abilities to communicate and live independently. Even the children whose
progress was slowest experienced significant decreases in challenging
behaviors and increases in independent communication and leisure skills,
thereby resulting in improved self-reliance and quality of life.
"My daughter is now recovered from autism," said Elizabeth Howell,
parent of a study participant. "When people meet her and interact with
her, they cannot believe that she ever had an autism diagnosis."
All children in the study received 25 or more hours per week of
one-on-one teaching and therapy. A careful assessment of each child's
strengths and deficits led to targeted teaching programs. Treatment
plans were based on children's motivations and activities were based on
their interests.
"The behavioral intervention was intensive, comprehensive and
high-quality," said Dr. Amy Kenzer, CARD research manager. "These
factors play a major role in the outcomes observed."
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that is marked by the
presence of impaired social interaction and communication and a
restricted repertoire of activities and interests. Autism is estimated
to affect as many as 1 in 110 children in America and is four times more
common in boys than in girls.
Source: Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc
Replies
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Too bad this is not offered to every child, and the waiting lists...OMG! By the time you have waited for services, your kid has missed sooo much of what is needed early on. We get 12 hrs of HBTS(home based therapy svs) if I had waited for ABA, I'd still be waiting.
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I read in another article about this study that it would cost $200,000 per child to do this.
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Ouch!
Quoting trippyhippy:
I read in another article about this study that it would cost $200,000 per child to do this.
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Agreed. The govt needs to make early intervention a priority. Every single child diagnosed should be given every possible therapy available. In the long run, it will obviously cost our govt. less.