An evaluation of the Early Learning Measure as a predictor of outcomes in early intensive behavioral intervention

Abstract

AbstractResearch on early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder demonstrates that many children who receive EIBI achieve optimal outcomes posttreatment, while others benefit more modestly. Researchers are, therefore, increasingly interested in identifying the child‐related and treatment‐related variables that predict the full range of outcomes reported in the EIBI literature. The present study is a retrospective investigation into how early response to treatment as measured by the Early Learning Measure related to and predicted a child's clinical outcome at discharge. Results suggest that rapid mastery of responses in the vocal imitation and expressive labeling domains were predictive of higher levels of adaptive functioning, lower autism symptomology, and fewer required services and supports posttreatment. Early progress in these domains was a better predictor of a child's outcome than either pretreatment assessment scores or the child's age at intake.