Throughout this website we use the term 'autism' to refer to all Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Overview and Objectives of Intervention Guide
There is a lot of research and much controversy regarding the best approach to care for children with autism. Much of this research is difficult to find and even harder to understand. At times even the experts disagree on the best way to interpret the results of various treatment studies. Individuals who conduct these studies make predictions that the results will turn out in a particular way, which can influence their interpretation. Studies often use different ways of measuring improvement, which can make it difficult to compare studies with each other. The children in one study may be very different from those in another. Age, specific symptoms, IQ, and other factors may have a big impact on whether a treatment appears to be effective.
Parent Guide to Autism Reseach
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is dedicated to providing information on applied research. It developed a Parent's Guide to Research, which provides a comprehensive overview of how to find, read, and understand autism-related research. We highly recommend that you use this guide as you learn more about autism.
What if a source claims to have a cure for autism?
Be careful of those sources that claim to have a cure for autism. Even though we all wish that this were true, a cure has not yet been found. Many of these claims are made by individuals seeking to profit from sales of their treatment. You owe it to yourself and your child to learn how to decide how reliable and valid the information you are reading is.
How do I find research on autism?
Autism related research can be found in online databases of research from scientific journals and paper copies of research articles at your local library. You also can request articles from the authors themselves. When you see a research presentation that is interesting to you, make a note of the study’s primary investigator. The primary investigator is often the first author of the article or presentation. The researcher or facility name should be specified in the report.
For example, you may hear, “a study out of the University of Pennsylvania found that…” or “a study by Dr. David Mandell at the University of Pennsylvania found that…” You can then enter the author or group’s name in an online database like Google to obtain more information. More specific instructions on finding research (both articles on specific treatment studies as well as more general research) can be found in the OAR Parent’s Guide to Research, pages 7-12.
The following database can be used to find published research articles on autism:
You can typically enter terms that are of particular interest to you, like “autism” or “Applied Behavior Analysis” to find research about that topic. It is usually helpful to put terms that are more than one word in quotations, so that the search is for the whole term and not each word.
Treatments and Interventions
The Association of Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) provides helpful summaries of research on various treatments for autism. Click here to go directly to the ASAT: Summaries of Scientific Research on Interventions on Autism page.
This website DOES NOT provide treatment advice from licensed professionals
It is important to remember that neither the summaries nor the research on which they are based are the same as advice and receiving an individualized treatment plan from a licensed, experienced professional. Although we have gone to great lengths to make sure our information is as comprehensive, accurate and current as possible, please consult a clinician or if possible, an experienced autism clinician, before you make treatment decisions for your child. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about you or your child’s condition, or before starting a new treatment program. Also, remember that the best treatment strategy for a person with autism depends on their specific symptoms, medical history, and many other factors.
Please click here to read the full disclaimer regarding the information on this website.