Comprehensive ABA-based interventions in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder – a meta-analysis

Eckes, Theresa; Buhlmann, Ulrike; Holling, Heinz-Dieter; Möllmann, Anne

doi:10.1186/s12888-022-04412-1

Cited by 23 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(173 reference statements)

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“…Compared to treatment as usual, minimal or no treatment, comprehensive ABA-based interventions showed medium effects for intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Language abilities, symptom severity, or parental stress did not improve beyond the improvement in control groups [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replicative Study of the Impacts of Applied Behavior Analysis on Target Behaviors in Individuals With Autism Using Repeated Measures

Peterson,

Dodson,

Strale,

2024

Cureus

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Background The effectiveness of interventions based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) for individuals with autism has been well documented in numerous meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and cost-benefit analyses. However, an observed ‘efficacy-effectiveness gap’ exists, which can be attributed to various factors. This third replication study, therefore, has significant implications for the field. By assessing the impact of ABA treatment, specifically involving discrete trial training and mass trials, within a naturalistic environment, the study provides valuable insights that can inform and improve the delivery of ABA treatments in real-world settings. Methods The study was conducted using a repeated measures research design. Retrospective chart review data were collected from 62 individuals with autism, age (M=8.65, SD=4.53), all of whom were level two autistic and required moderate support in communication, socialization, and daily life. These individuals received ABA treatment over five months. The study measured cumulative target behaviors using a repeated measures design, which allowed for the identification of statistically significant differences across 12 time points. This robust methodology ensures the validity and reliability of the study's findings. Results Mixed repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated statistical significance (sphericity assumed), F(11,495) = 55.432, p < 0.001 (time). Multiple comparisons using bootstrapped paired t-tests showed p < 0.05 on time points 1-8 and non-significance (p > 0.05) on time points 9-12. There was a significant interaction effect (sphericity assumed) with time x (age category), F(44,495) = 2.338, p < 0.001. Interaction contrasts indicated statistically significant differences over time, mainly within the one-year to four-year-old, five to eight-year-old, and most in the nine to 12-year-old age groups. There was some significance within the 13- to 16-year-old age group and no significance within the 17- to 26-year-old age group. Conclusions Over five months, individuals with autism who underwent ABA treatments demonstrated a statistically significant enhancement in general target behaviors. This finding is crucial as it underscores the effectiveness of ABA treatments in a naturalistic environment. Moreover, the study's discovery of a significant interaction between time and age in these behaviors provides valuable insights into the impact of age on treatment outcomes. Extensive large-N studies of general ABA broad effectiveness and repeated measures designs are lacking and can lead to further research to improve quality and outcomes. These findings contribute to the body of empirical evidence and emphasize the importance of replicative efficacy studies in ensuring the reliability of research findings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replicative Study of the Impacts of Applied Behavior Analysis on Target Behaviors in Individuals With Autism Using Repeated Measures

Peterson,

Dodson,

Strale,

2024

Cureus

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“…For these skills to be acquired and generalized, it is essential that early, individualized, and intensive training is carried out and delivered in different settings (home, school, community, and/or clinic). One of the most effective treatments for ASD is applied behavior analysis (ABA) [9][10][11]. However, due to its cost and the need for specialist professionals, it is inaccessible to most of the population [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Acquisition of Social Communication Skills in Children with Autism: Preliminary Findings from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Parent Training, and Video Modeling

Bordini,

Moya,

Asevedo

et al. 2024

Brain Sciences

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Social communication skills, especially eye contact and joint attention, are frequently impaired in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and predict functional outcomes. Applied behavior analysis is one of the most common evidence-based treatments for ASD, but it is not accessible to most families in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as it is an expensive and intensive treatment and needs to be delivered by highly specialized professionals. Parental training has emerged as an effective alternative. This is an exploratory study to assess a parental intervention group via video modeling to acquire eye contact and joint attention. Four graded measures of eye contact and joint attention (full physical prompt, partial physical prompt, gestural prompt, and independent) were assessed in 34 children with ASD and intellectual disability (ID). There was a progressive reduction in the level of prompting required over time to acquire eye contact and joint attention, as well as a positive correlation between the time of exposure to the intervention and the acquisition of abilities. This kind of parent training using video modeling to teach eye contact and joint attention skills to children with ASD and ID is a low-cost intervention that can be applied in low-resource settings.

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“…Compared to standard treatment or minimal to no treatment, comprehensive ABA-based interventions demonstrated medium effects on intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. However, there were no improvements beyond the control groups in language abilities, symptom severity, or parental stress [7]. Gitimoghaddam et al systematically searched seven online databases to identify peer-reviewed Englishlanguage studies examining the impact of ABA on health outcomes [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Effects of Applied Behavior Analysis on Male and Female Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Peterson,

Dodson,

Sherwin

et al. 2024

Cureus

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IntroductionCurrent evidence-based treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). However, research on gender differences in ABA therapy response is limited. This study seeks to (1) confirm the 4:1 male-to-female ratio reported in the literature and (2) identify any possible gender differences in target behaviors over seven timepoints measured every two weeks. Materials and methodsFor three months, from March 19, 2023, to June 11, 2023, a team of 3-5 behavioral technicians per individual collected daily data on general target mastery for 100 individuals with ASD treated with ABA. Data was collected at seven timepoints every two weeks. Descriptive demographics were computed. Two independent sample t-tests were performed to determine significant or nonsignificant gender differences with the seven timepoint variables. ResultsNonstatistically significant gender differences (p > .05) were found on all seven cumulative target behavior timepoints measured at two-week intervals. For targets mastered Time 1, baseline between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 1.0571, SD = 1.9196) and females (M = 2.0455, SD = 3.9457) (t(90) = -1.591, p = 0.115, confidence interval (CI) = -2.2223, 0.2456, d = -0.389). For targets mastered Time 2, two weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 3.7132; SD = 4.5065) and females (M = 4.0682, SD = 5.1508) (t(88) = -0.310, p = 0.757, CI = -2.6305, 1.92056, d = -0.076). For targets mastered Time 3, four weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 7.0956; SD = 8.7781) and females (M = 8.6136; SD = 11.2799) (t(88) = -0.656, p = 0.514, CI = -6.1173, 3.0811, d = -0.161). For targets mastered Time 4, six weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 13.1728, SD = 16.2003) and females (M = 13.0682, SD = 16.9272) (t(88) = 0.026, p = 0.979, CI = -7.8779, 8.0871, d = 0.006). For targets mastered Time 5, eight weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 17.2096; SD = 18.8546) and females (M = 17.4286, SD = 22.1683) (t(87) = -0.045, p = 0.965, CI = -9.9773, 9.5393, d = -0.011). For targets mastered Time 6, 10 weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (M = 21.0074, SD = 21.3329) and females (M = 20.6818, SD = 26.1231) (t(88) = 0.059, p = 0.953, CI = -10.6752, 11.3262, d = 0.014). For targets mastered Time 7, 12 weeks between males and females, there was no significant difference in the means for males (

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Comprehensive ABA-based interventions in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder – a meta-analysis

Cited by 23 publications

References 75 publications

Replicative Study of the Impacts of Applied Behavior Analysis on Target Behaviors in Individuals With Autism Using Repeated Measures

Replicative Study of the Impacts of Applied Behavior Analysis on Target Behaviors in Individuals With Autism Using Repeated Measures

Exploring the Acquisition of Social Communication Skills in Children with Autism: Preliminary Findings from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Parent Training, and Video Modeling

Comparative Effects of Applied Behavior Analysis on Male and Female Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

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