CARD Study Is Latest Proving ABA Is the Gold Standard for Autism Treatment

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, executive director and founder of CARD, celebrates 

the study results  with Megan Howell, one of the participants who recovered

 from autism. (PRNewsFoto/Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc.)

Study results released by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders prove, once again, that ABA is the gold standard for autism treatment.   CARD, one of the best known, experienced and credible centers for autism intervention in the world states in its press release that the study:

"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.

CARD officials are not trying to overstate the results. They do not claim that the children are cured nor that they all can be said to be "indistinguishable from their peers":

Daniel Openden, the center's vice president and clinical services director, said the CARD results are the latest to prove ABA-based therapy is the gold standard for autism treatment. He sees autistic children make amazing progress, but he doesn't say they are cured or recovered.

"Recovery can mean different things to different people, so the key is to understand how recovery is defined," he said. "We see a range of outcomes in response to effective treatment, up to and including children who appear indistinguishable from their peers. But we're not comfortable saying that these children no longer have autism."

This study will have no persuasive effect on those who are ideologically opposed to ABA but for parents and others seeking help for their autistic children it is more evidence that they should give strong consideration to ABA as a treatment to help their children.

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Dear Health Minister Clement: Re Autism Gold Standard Intervention

October 31, 2007

Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health (Canada)

Dear Honourable Minister

Recently your government filed its response to the Senate's "Pay Now Or Pay Later" report on autism services and funding in Canada. As the parent of a profoundly autistic 11 1/2 year old boy I have been active in autism advocacy in my province for the past 9 years. I was disappointed, extremely disappointed, with your government's weak response to an issue which now is estimated to directly affect 1 in 150 Canadians and their families.

In particular I found objectionable your government's stated position that there is no consensus on a gold standard of treatment for autism. That position is simply inconsistent with the professional literature as I understand it, admittedly from the perspective of a mere parent. State and federal agencies in the United States over the past decade from Maine to New York to California have routinely described ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, as an evidence based effective intervention for autistic children; the only intervention to be accorded that level of recognition of its efficacy.

This week the American Academy of Pediatrics released two autism reports one dealing with, and setting out recommendations concerning the need for very early diagnosis of autism disorders in children. The other report included a review of the professional literature on autism interventions. In Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders the AAP stated with respect to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) :

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive behavioral intervention programs in university and community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.31–4

With all respect Honourable Minister, the position that there is no Gold Standard treatment or intervention for autism, is not in the language of the legal profession of which I am a member, "credible". I ask you to reconsider this stand by your government. I also ask you to look past the strict interpretation of Canadian constitutional jurisdiction over health matters on which your government and Mr. Duceppe's Bloc Quebecois relies in opposing federally funded ABA treatment for autism. Cooperative federalism has worked well in many instances in this country and to my knowledge is not inconsistent with the ultimate separatist aims of Mr. Duceppe's party. Before his party achieves full sovereignty autistic children will be growing older and needing ABA services in Quebec where autistic children despite claims of "we do it differently" are also badly in need of funded ABA services.

I ask you to put aside petty politics and help autistic children wherever they reside in Canada. Put the ideology and rhetoric in a drawer for safe keeping and help autistic children with some of the multi billion dollar federal surplus. Help autistic children now. Tomorrow is too late.

Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

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Autism Gold Standard Intervention - Nova Scotia ABA/IEBI Autism Program Produces Positive Reslts

This has not been a good week for those who insist that there is no consensus on a gold standard intervention for autistic children. The AAP description of ABA as an intervention with more than 5 decades of studies providing positive results for autistic children is followed by the results from a Nova Scotia IEBI/ABA study showing positive results. It's enough to give anti-ABA crusaders a real headache.


Autism Treatment Program Getting Positive Results



Department of Health

October 30, 2007 12:00

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A program designed to enhance social and communication skills for young children with autism spectrum disorder is providing added benefits to their families.

The interim results of an independent program evaluation conducted by IWK Health Centre Research Services and Dalhousie University indicates that after one year of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI)treatment, virtually all 27 children in the first phase of the program had significantly improved communication skills. According to tests and parental feedback, they also had improved problem-solving skills and reduced behavioural problems.

...

Many of the children were about a year and a half behind in language-development skills when they began EIBI treatment. On average, children gained more than a year's worth of language skills in the first 12 months of treatment.

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