Do you have a child with autism? If so, listen up! The National Autism Center announced the completion this week of the National Standards Report–a conclusive guide to effective treatments for kids and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
This groundbreaking report provides much-needed guidance for parents of children with autism. The report identifies the level of scientific evidence available for a broad range of autism treatments. (It includes 775 research studies – the largest number of studies ever reviewed.)
The findings of the National Standards Project reveal:
11 “Established” Treatments: treatments that produce beneficial outcomes and are known to be effective for individuals on the autism spectrum. The overwhelming majority of these interventions were developed in the behavioral literature (e.g., applied behavior analysis, behavioral psychology, and positive behavior support).
22 “Emerging” Treatments: treatments that have some evidence of effectiveness, but not enough for us to be confident that they are truly effective.
5 “Unestablished” Treatments: treatments for which there is no sound evidence of effectiveness. There is no way to rule out the possibility these treatments are ineffective or harmful.
The report also provides specific information about the age groups, treatment targets, and diagnostic populations to which these treatments have been applied.
Parents, educators, and service providers are encouraged to use this information about treatment effectiveness as they make decisions about which treatments to select. The report is FREE and can be downloaded now from the National Autism Center’s website.
Info: Go to www.NationalAutismCenter.org.
