title: Intensity and Learning Outcomes in the Treatment of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Ample research has shown that intensive applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment produces robust outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, little is known about the relationship between treatment intensity and treatment outcomes. The current study was designed to evaluate this relationship. Participants included 726 children, ages 1.5 to 12 years old, receiving community-based behavioral intervention services. Results indicated a strong relationship between treatment intensity and mastery of learning objectives, where higher treatment intensity predicted greater progress. Specifically, 35% of the variance in mastery of learning objectives was accounted for by treatment hours using standard linear regression, and 60% of variance was accounted for using artificial neural networks. These results add to the existing support for higher intensity treatment for children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linstead
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: French
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Granpeesheh
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.|3 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: German
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Alva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarbox
authors.affiliation: 1 Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornack
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: applied behavior analysis; autism spectrum disorder; treatment intensity; treatment outcomes