Objectives: The objective of this research is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the AEIOU programme as implemented at the Brisbane ASELCC through investigating child and family outcomes captured in the assessment conducted as part of this initiative.
Methods: Participants included parents and their children with an ASD aged 2½ to 6 years who attended the Queensland ASELCC in 2010 and exited by July 2011 (n = 10). Assessment of children’s communication, motor, and cognitive development as well as their adaptive behaviour were completed upon entry to the programme and at exit. Measures included the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS-II), Psychoeducational Profile (PEP-III), the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).
Results: Significant improvements at a group level were found in the level of autism symptoms with the average SCQ score improving from the clinical to non-clinical range. Consistent with this, significant improvements were also observed in PEP-3 social reciprocity standard scores. In addition, significant gains were observed in PEP-3 standard scores for cognitive/verbal communication, fine motor and visual-motor imitation skills. No significant changes in standard scores for adaptive behaviour (VABS) were observed, although there were gains in some age-equivalent subdomain scores. Changes in age-equivalent scores on receptive language on the MSEL were observed although other subscales did not significantly change over time.
Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest promising outcomes for children participating in the AEIOU programme, particularly in terms of symptom reduction and increases in educational skills. Future studies require the use of larger samples and randomised and controlled methodology. However, this small-scale Australian study contributes to the evidence-base for centre-based educational intervention for children with autism.
See more of: Treatments: A: Social Skills; School, Teachers
See more of: Prevalence, Risk factors & Intervention