In our Research Synopses section you will find overviews of published research articles for families, teachers, and other service providers. Our most recent reviews are divided into sections on why the topic matters, what the researchers did, what the researchers found, and the strengths and weaknesses of the study. If you would like to request that a particular study be reviewed by ASAT, please send us a PDF of the study. We will only consider published work in peer reviewed journals; however, please be advised that we may not be able to review all requests.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Toward meaningful outcomes in teaching conversation and greeting skills with individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- The effects of an escape extinction procedure using protective equipment on self-injurious behavior.
- Community implementation of early behavioral intervention: Higher intensity gives better outcome.
- Teaching Complex Verbal Operants to Children with Autism Using the PEAK Curriculum.
- Towards an Understanding of the Essential Components of Behavior Analytic Service Plans.
- Implementing a manualized, classroom transition intervention for students with ASD in underresourced schools.
- Early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized brain activity in young children with autism. Reviewed by Antonia R. Giannakakos
- Early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized brain activity in young children with autism. Reviewed by Audrey Torricelli
- Behavioral Intervention in Mainstream Pre-School Settings
- Comparison of Behavioral Intervention and Sensory-Integration Therapy in the Treatment of Challenging Behavior
- The Role of Treatment Fidelity on Outcomes During a Randomized Field Trial of an Autism Intervention
- EIBI in Community Settings: Public Preschool and Kindergarten
- A systematic review of early intensive intervention for autism spectrum disorders
- Two year prospective follow-up on community-based EIBI
- Real-world effectiveness of early teaching interventions for children with autism
- Evidence-based comprehensive treatments for early autism
- Early intensive behavioral intervention: Outcomes for children with autism and their parents after two years
- Early intensive behavioral treatment: Replication of the UCLA model in a community setting
- Systematic review of early intensive behavioral interventions for children with autism
- Meta-analysis of early intensive behavioral intervention for children with autism
- Comments on Spreckley and Boyd (2009). Efficacy of applied behavioral intervention in preschool children with autism for improving cognitive, language, and adaptive behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Change in autism core symptoms with intervention
- Comprehensive synthesis of early intensive behavioral interventions for young children with autism based on the UCLA young autism project model
- Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism
- Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: The early start Denver model
- Community-based intensive behavioral intervention
- Classroom application of functional analysis
- Using participant data to extend evidence base for intensive behavioral intervention for children with autism
Project TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children)
- Comparative Efficacy of LEAP, TEACCH and non-model-specific special education programs for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders
- The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: A meta-analysis of intervention studies
- Effects of an individual work system on the independent functioning of students with autism
Parent Training Program
- Intervening in Infancy: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders
- A Parent-mediated Intervention to Increase Responsive Parental Behaviors and Child Communication in Children with ASD
- Effect of Parent Training vs. Parent Education
- Effect of Parent Training vs. Parent Education on Behavioral Problems
- Caregiver-mediated intervention for low-resourced preschoolers with autism
- A randomised group comparison of parent education and skills training intervention
- Parent-mediated Social Communication Therapy
- Pilot study of a parent training program for young children with autism: The PLAY project home consultation program
Sensory-based Interventions
- Effects of Weighted Vests on the Engagement of Children With Developmental Delays and Autism
- Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Interventions in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study
- Comparison of Behavioral Intervention and Sensory-Integration Therapy in the Treatment of Challenging Behavior
- The use of weighted vests with children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities
Other
- Effects of improvisational music therapy on joint attention behaviors
- An experimental analysis of the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the behavior of children with autism
- Environment enrichment as treatment for autism: A randomized controlled trial
- Using computerized games to teach face recognition skills to children with autism spectrum disorder: the let’s face it! program
- Harnessing repetitive behaviors to engage attention and learning in a novel therapy for autism: an exploratory analysis
Biomedical Interventions
Medications
- Efficacy of Low-Dose Buspirone for Restricted and Repetitive Behavior in Young Children with ASD
- Randomized, controlled, crossover trial of Methylphenidate in PDD with hyperactivity
- Lack of efficacy of Cital in children with autism spectrum disorders and high levels of repetitive behaviors
- Medication and parent training in children with pervasive developmental disorders and serious behavior problems : Results from a randomized clinical trial
- Atomoxetine, Parent Training and Their Combination in Children With Autism Spectrum and ADHD
- The effect of Oxytocin nasal spray on social interaction deficits observed in young children with autism
Procedures to Teach Specific Skills for Individuals with Autism
Joint Attention
- Caregiver-mediated intervention for low-resourced preschoolers with autism
- Preschool based JASPER intervention in minimally verbal children with autism: Pilot RCT
- Multiple effects of joint attention intervention for children with autism
- Joint attention training for children with autism using behavior modification procedures
- Joint attention and symbolic play in young children with autism: A randomized controlled intervention study
- Teaching children with autism to respond to joint attention initiations
- Intervention targeting development of socially synchronous engagement in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder
Communication Skills
- Toward meaningful outcomes in teaching conversation and greeting skills with individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- Increasing appropriate conversation skills using a behavioral skills training package for adults with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder.
- An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: a randomized trial.
- Communication Interventions for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism: A Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial
- Preschool-based social-communication treatment for children with autism: 12- month follow-up of a randomized trial
- Generalization of PECS
- A Randomized Comparison of the effect of two prelinguistic communication interventions on the acquisition of spoken communication in preschoolers with ASD
- Randomized controlled trial of Hanen’s “More than words” in toddlers with early autism symptoms
- The effectiveness of the picture exchange communication system (PECS) on communication and speech for children with autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis
- Comparison of Verbal and Pictorial Naturalistic Communication Strategies on Spoken Language
Social Skills
- Changes in Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents with ASD Completing the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention
- RCT of a manualized social treatment for high-functioning autism spectrum disorders
- Making the connection: Randomized controlled trial of social skills at school for children with autism spectrum disorders
- Brief report: Effect of a focused imitation intervention on social functioning in children with autism
- A Randomized Trial of Social Skills Groups at School
Adolescents and Adults with Autism
Intervention
- Effectiveness of a school-based cognitive behavioural intervention for anxiety in adolescents with ASD
- Increasing appropriate conversation skills using a behavioral skills training package for adults with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder
- Changes in Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents with ASD Completing the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention
- Interventions targeting expressive communication systems in adults with ASD: A systematic review
- Parent-assisted social skills training to improve friendships in teens with autism spectrum disorders
- A replication and extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults social skills intervention
- Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder