Randomized Trial of a Computer-Assisted Intervention for Children With Autism in Schools - 20/02/20
, Steven C. Marcus, PhD, Christine Spaulding, BS, Max Seidman, BS, Ming Xie, MS, Keiran Rump, PhD, Erica M. Reisinger, MSEd, David S. Mandell, ScDAbstract |
Objective |
Computer-assisted interventions (CAIs) are popular for educating children with autism, but their effectiveness is not well established. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 1 CAI designed to improve children’s language, cognitive, and academic skills, TeachTown: Basics, in a large urban school district.
Method |
Teachers (n = 59) in autism support classrooms and their consented students in kindergarten through second grade (n = 154) were randomized to TeachTown: Basics or waitlist control. Child outcome was measured at baseline and after 1 academic year using the Bracken Basic Concepts Scale–Receptive and Expressive versions and the Differential Ability Scales, Second Edition (DAS-II). Random effects regression models that included clustering of time within students and students within classrooms were used to test whether the change over time in each outcome differed between groups.
Results |
There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes for children who received TeachTown: Basics or treatment as usual. Increased time spent using TeachTown: Basics was associated with worse receptive language outcomes for children in the experimental group after 1 academic year. However, there was no association between minutes spent using TeachTown and changes in expressive language or DAS-II score.
Conclusion |
Despite growing enthusiasm for CAIs in autism treatment, the present findings indicate that CAI might not be effective at improving language and cognitive outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder. The decision to implement CAIs in schools should be carefully balanced against the evidence for effectiveness of these programs. Schools might be better served by investing in treatment strategies with established evidence.
Clinical trial registration information |
RCT of TeachTown in Autism Support Classrooms: Innovation and Exnovation; clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT02695693
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : computer-assisted intervention, computer-based intervention, autism spectrum disorder, school-based intervention
Plan
| This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (award number 5R01MH106175-02). The funding source was not directly involved with the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, or writing of the article. |
|
| Drs. Marcus and Mandell served as the statistical experts for this research. |
|
| Disclosure: Dr. Pellecchia has received research support from the Institute of Education Sciences. Dr. Marcus has received personal fees from Allergan, Alkermes, Johnson and Johnson, Sage Therapeutics, and Sunovion. He has received research support from the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Mandell has received personal fees from Sage Publishing, the State of California, the US Department of Defense, the Pennsylvania State University, Brandeis University, Once Upon a Time Foundation, the University of North Carolina, and Duke University. He has received research support from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Rump, Ms. Spaulding, Mr. Seidman, Ms. Xie, and Ms. Reisinger have reported no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. |
Vol 59 - N° 3
P. 373-380 - mars 2020 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Parent-Based Treatment as Efficacious as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety: A Randomized Noninferiority Study of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
- Eli R. Lebowitz, Carla Marin, Alyssa Martino, Yaara Shimshoni, Wendy K. Silverman
- Classifying Mood Symptom Trajectories in Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder
- Marc J. Weintraub, Christopher D. Schneck, David A. Axelson, Boris Birmaher, Robert A. Kowatch, David J. Miklowitz
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?