title: Intensive behavioral treatment for a toddler at high risk for autism.
abstract: Intensive, comprehensive treatment using a variety of applied behavior analysis methods was provided to a toddler who was determined to be at high risk for autism at the age of about 1 year. Initially, treatment was delivered in a one-to-one adult-child format in the child's home and other settings, with gradual transitions to group instruction in early intervention and preschool classrooms. Intensive treatment continued for 3 years; by the 4th year, the child was spending most of her time in a regular preschool classroom, with minimal ongoing one-to-one instruction. Direct observational data and results of norm-referenced tests documented large increases in language, social, cognitive, and daily living skills over the course of treatment. After 4 years, the child demonstrated no behavioral or developmental abnormalities, performed above her chronological age level on norm-referenced tests of cognitive and language skills, and was functioning as a typical child in a regular public school kindergarten classroom.
authors.affiliation: New England Center for Children, University of Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Lynn C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D012306:Risk