Findings and Conclusions: National Standards Project, Phase 2—Addressing the Need for Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Autism Spectrum Disorder
National Autism Center. (2015).
Randolph (MA): National Autism Center, iii-88.
This guideline provides intervention recommendations for children, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum. The target audience for this guideline includes parents, caregivers, educators, and service providers.
National Autism Center
Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment for Young Children (CBTYC), also described as Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, is an established intervention for children from 0-9 years old. CBTYC has been shown to increase academic, cognitive, interpersonal and communication skills.
Language Training (Production), which targets ability to produce verbal communication, is an established intervention for children aged 3-9 years. This intervention has been shown to increase interpersonal/play skills and communication skills.
Behavioral Intervention is the only established intervention for individuals 22 years of age and older and has been shown to increase communication skills.
Parent Training Package, which requires the parent to receive training from the service provider to implement therapeutic strategies, is an established intervention for children and adolescents 0-18 years of age. Parent Training has been shown to increase interpersonal and play skills.
Peer Training Package is an established intervention for children 3-14 years of age. Peer Training, which trains peers on social interactions with the child on the autism spectrum, has been shown to increase communication and interpersonal skills.
Modeling (live or video modeling) is an established intervention for children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. Modeling has been shown to increase cognitive, communication, interpersonal, and play skills.
Naturalistic Teaching Strategies (NTS) is an established intervention for children between the ages of 0 and 9 years. NTS has been shown to increase communication skills and interpersonal/play skills.
<p>Social Skills Package is an established intervention for adolescents between of the ages of 13 and 18 years. This intervention has been shown to increase the following skills:</p>
<ul>
<li>communication;</li>
<li>learning readiness;</li>
<li>play; and</li>
<li>interpersonal skills.</li>
</ul>
Scripting is an established intervention for children 3-14 years of age and has been shown to increase play, communication, and interpersonal skills.
<p>Self-management strategies, which promote independence with tasks, are established interventions for adolescents 15-21 years of age. Self-management strategies have been shown to increase the following skills:</p>
<ul>
<li>academic;</li>
<li>interpersonal;</li>
<li>self-regulation; and</li>
<li>communication.</li>
</ul>
<p>The following are unestablished interventions for individuals 0-21 years of age:</p>
<ul>
<li>Auditory Integration Training;</li>
<li>DIR/Floor Time;</li>
<li>Facilitated Communication;</li>
<li>SENSE Theatre Intervention;</li>
<li>Sensory Intervention Package;</li>
<li>Social Behavioral Learning Strategy;</li>
<li>Social Cognition Intervention; and</li>
<li>Social Thinking Intervention.</li>
</ul>
Pivotal Response Training (PRT) is an established intervention for children 3-9 years of age. PRT has been shown to increase interpersonal, communication, and play skills.
Story-based Intervention is an established intervention for children 3-14 years of age. Story-based interventions have been shown to increase communication skills, interpersonal skills, and self-regulation skills.
<p>Behavioral Interventions are established interventions for children and adolescents aged 3-21 years. Behavioral Interventions have been shown to increase the following skills:</p>
<ul>
<li>academic;</li>
<li>cognitive;</li>
<li>communication;</li>
<li>interpersonal;</li>
<li>learning readiness;</li>
<li>play; and</li>
<li>self-regulation.</li>
</ul>
Modeling and Sensory Integration Package are unestablished interventions for adults 22 years of age and older.
<p>The following are emerging interventions for individuals 0-21 years of age:</p>
<ul>
<li>Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices;</li>
<li>Developmental Relationship-based Treatment;</li>
<li>Functional Communication Training;</li>
<li>Imitation-based Intervention;</li>
<li>Initiation Training;</li>
<li>Language Training (Production & Understanding);</li>
<li>Multi-component Package;</li>
<li>Picture Exchange Communication System;</li>
<li>Sign Instruction;</li>
<li>Social Communication Intervention;</li>
<li>Structured Teaching; and</li>
<li>Technology-based Intervention.</li>
</ul>
