Evidence-Based or Not ?
Watch Out for Red Flags
AUTISM THERAPY tools to determine whether participants improved due to the treatment , random chance , or something entirely unrelated .
Evidence-based also means a panel of experts has reviewed the experiment and its results from various fields , and it has been duplicated by other qualified researchers .
The bottom line : An evidence-based therapy for autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) is one the scientific community has deemed effective for a large number of children .
Parents are understandably swayed when they hear another parent talk about how much a therapy helped their child . Without scientific evidence , however , it is impossible to know what worked and why . One child ’ s improvement with an autism therapy does not necessarily transfer to another child .
Most unproven therapies will not hurt your child . The biggest risk is wasting time . The hours you spend each week on an untested autism therapy could be spent on an evidence-based therapy program that has been proven to work . In the meantime , your child has missed opportunities to make progress .
Evidence-Based or Not ?
Figuring out whether an autism therapy is scientifically proven and is likely to help your child does not have to be complicated . Asking a few simple questions can provide the information you need to make an educated decision .
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Is this therapy evidence-based ? It may sound obvious , but you should ask this question about any therapy you are considering . A “ no ” answer is not necessarily the end of the conversation , but it can help you decide whether the therapy is worthwhile and where it might fit in your child ’ s treatment plan .
How many studies have been conducted on this therapy ? There is no exact right answer , but you should look for therapies with at least five to ten studies for each skill area or behavior being measured . For example , more than 600 research studies have proven that Applied Behavior Analysis ( ABA ) is effective for children with autism .
What types of children participated in the studies ? As parents know , most children with
4 . autism need help in a number of areas . Evidence that proves a therapy works for children who have difficulty speaking is only valuable if that is a challenge facing your child . Ideally , you are looking for studies that show results among children whose needs are similar to your child ’ s .
Have experts from other disciplines confirmed the results ? If a panel of speech therapists , behavior analysts , and teachers have all confirmed the quality of a study , you can be more confident in the findings .
Additional resources can also be valuable . The National Autism Center published a 2015 report titled The National Standards Project , Phase 2 , which is the largest review of autism research to date .
The report includes a list of groups that provide systematic reviews of autism research , such as The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality .
Watch Out for Red Flags
Not all autism therapy research is conducted with the same level of scientific quality . You do not need to become an expert in research methods or statistics , but a little skepticism can help you avoid therapies whose evidence is questionable .
Start by asking a trusted teacher , board-certified behavior analyst ( BCBA ), speech-language pathologist , pediatrician , or another clinician to help review the literature about an autism therapy you are considering .
Watch out for red flags :
• “ Sales ” Research
One or two studies that support an autism therapy may have been designed to produce positive results — especially if the research was conducted or sponsored by the company that is selling the therapy . Many people selling autism therapies are eager to get more business , so they may state that their treatments are evidence-based even if there is poor evidence or no evidence .
• No Data
The data and research methods behind a study should always be published so other researchers can review and duplicate the results .
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 72 | 17