UK Young Autism Project

Svein Eikeseth PhD, Diane Hayward BSc, Catherine Merry BSc

Replication Study

One of our aims is to complete our replication study of Dr Lovaas' work (1987). All children living in London, Birmingham, Bristol and certain surrounding counties were included in the study if they met specific criteria specified by the UCLA Multi-Site Young Autism Project. These children have been assigned to either centre based intensive programmes or workshop programmes, depending on their exact location.

At intake, throughout the duration of the programme, and at follow ups until the child reaches seven years, certain assessments are conducted in order to provide data for the study. This takes place in the form of annual follow up assessments, such as IQ tests and language assessments, conducted by an independent educational psychologist and arranged by UK Young Autism Project. Further data are collected by the project directors, through parent questionnaires and the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R). Various other data are collected during treatment, such as number of treatment hours, and a record of any other interventions provided to the child.

Parents may be asked at any point, during or after the programme, for consent to allow us to include their child in other relevant research studies. Parents always maintain the right to withdraw their child from the UK Young Autism Project replication study or any additional study within the project, at any time.

Please note that we are not currently admitting any further children into the replication study. At present, all children joining UK Young Autism Project will be assigned workshop programmes of exactly the same model, but they will not be included in the study. Families living in any location, with children of all ages may apply for the workshop services that we provide.