Objectives: The current study aims to investigate the relationship of current levels of social functioning in a population of children with ASD over 10 years old in relation to: (a) degree of ABA therapy and (b) age at which the individual started ABA therapy. Additionally, the current study will explore possible gender differences in participants’ social functioning outcomes.
Methods: Participants will include individuals from the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC; https://sfari.org/simons-simplex-collection) ages 10 to 18 years old. All have received clinical diagnoses of ASD through administrations of the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised (ADI-R; Rutter et al, 2009) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS; Lord et al, 2000). Current social functioning will be assessed by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, Second Edition (VABS-II; Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Balla, 2005) socialization domain. An SSC-specific form called the Treatment History Form will provide information regarding the amount of ABA therapy received starting at age two through age eighteen years.
Results: Analyses will utilize multiple linear regressions to determine whether the amount of ABA therapy and/or the age at which individuals started ABA therapy are predictors of positive social functioning outcomes for individuals with ASD.
Conclusions: The findings of this study will contribute to the literature regarding the relationship between ABA therapy and social functioning outcomes later in life as well as how these outcomes may differ by gender. With these long term outcomes in mind, parents and service providers may be able make decisions about the age at which children with ASD would benefit from ABA therapy, and also how long they decide to continue utilizing this therapy.
See more of: Treatments: A: Social Skills; School, Teachers
See more of: Prevalence, Risk factors & Intervention