Author Description

Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) seems to be an umbrella-like term used to describe behavioural programs that are intensive (up to 40 hours per week) for autistic children. Induded under the term IBI is Lovaas therapy. Three critical reviews of intensive intervention programs for autism by ECRI, BCOHTA and Smith were summarized. Of the three reviews, the one by ECRI was the most inclusive, analyzing studies on Lovaas therapy, TEACCH, the Rutgers Progran, the Denver Program, LEAP and the Autism Pre-school rogram. All critical reviews analyzed studies on Lovaas therapy and concluded that these studies were methodologically flawed. It appears that children improve in functioning with intensive intervention programs, but it remains to be determined if any one program is more effective than another. There is insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between amount (intensity and duration) of any intensive intervention treatment program and outcomes measures (intelligence tests, language development, adaptive behaviour tests).