| Support Real Science in Autism Treatment! |
By Daniel W. Mruzek, PhD, BCBA-D University of Rochester Marketers of purported interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), whether they are pills, devices, or exercises, claim that their products are effective. As proof, they point to any number of measures: some valid, some questionable, and some potentially misleading. Given that many of these “treatments” may…
Written by Bob LaRue, PhD, BCBA-D Associate Director of Behavioral and Research Services Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers University & Amy Hansford, BA Autism is a complex disorder characterized by significant deficits in social reciprocity and communicative ability as well as the presence of repetitive behavior/restricted interests. Given the heterogeneous nature of autism, many interventions…
by Kate Fiske, PhD, BCBA-D Though many parents and professionals recognize the importance of implementing evidence-based practices for children with autism, they may struggle with identifying resources that offer practical strategies for implementing these practices. The National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has compiled a series of briefs on 24 evidence-based…
Before evaluating any content found on the ASAT website, please read this article by Sense About Science. Sense About Science has produced a guide to help people to query the status of science and research reported in the media. The guide details how peer reviewed articles like the ones we offer below are checked and published. Choosing…
David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Erin Leif, PhD, BCBA-D Association for Science in Autism Treatment ASAT is a science-based organization, and part of our mission is to educate the public about effective autism treatment and to improve the accuracy with which autism and its treatment are portrayed in the media. We do the latter by…
My 8-year-old son is currently enrolled in a school-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) program. We are in the process of moving into a new district and are being presented with an array of options. What are the pros and cons of a school-based ABA program versus a center-based ABA program? Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA…
How do I explain my decision to use science-based treatments for autism when friends and relatives often insist I try something new? Answered by David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Pamela F. Feliciano, PhD Association for Science in Autism Treatment We certainly respect any individual’s right to his or her own opinion, and certainly for parents…
Written by David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Denise Lorelli, MS Association for Science in Autism Treatment Yes, sadly it can happen. With 500+ purported treatments for autism, there is no shortage of so called “treatments” whose name begins with some activity, substance, or favorite pastime and ends in the word “therapy.” A cursory internet search…
What are some of the key elements of setting up an evidence-based program? Intervention choices are guided by published research in peer-reviewed journals. Task force findings related to evidence-basedprocedures are also considered. Providers have the proper credentials and experience, as well as a respect for the scientific literature. Those who carry out the actual intervention…
David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Sunita Chhatwani, MSc, MEd Association for Science in Autism Treatment Description: Magnet therapy, magnetic field therapy, or magnetotherapy is a procedure that involves the application of magnets to target overall health as well as an array of pain conditions arising from arthritis, insomnia, headache, neuropathy, tensions, sciatica, fibromyalgia, pelvic pain,…
Kristin S. Bowman, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCBA-D Endicott College & Grace Effect Therapy Services Examples: Sign language, pictures, speech-generating device, voice output communication aid Description According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that encompasses all communication modalities other than vocal-verbal communication (i.e., talking; ASHA, n.d.-a). As the…