Changes in Autistic Symptoms and Adaptive Functioning of Children Receiving Early Behavioral Intervention in a Community Setting: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

Despite showing robust effects in well-controlled studies, the extent to which early intensive behavioral intervention produces positive changes in naturalistic, community-based settings remains uncertain. Thus, our study examined changes in autistic symptoms and adaptive functioning in 233 children in children with autism receiving early behavioral intervention in a community setting. The results revealed nonlinear changes in adaptive functioning characterized by significant improvements during the intervention period and a small linear decrease in autistic symptoms from baseline to follow-up. The intensity of intervention, age at enrolment, IQ and autistic symptoms were associated either with progress during the intervention period or maintenance during the follow-up period. Taken together, these results underline the importance of conducting further replications in community settings.