Evidence-Based Practices for Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Autism: Third Generation Review

J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Nov;51(11):4013-4032. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04844-2. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Abstract

This systematic review describes a set of practices that have evidence of positive effects with autistic children and youth. This is the third iteration of a review of the intervention literature (Odom et al. in J Autism Dev Disorders 40(4):425-436, 2010a; Prevent School Fail 54(4):275-282, 2010b; Wong et al. in https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/sites/autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/2014-EBP-Report.pdf ; J Autism Dev Disorders 45(7):1951-1966, 2015), extending coverage to articles published between 1990 and 2017. A search initially yielded 31,779 articles, and the subsequent screening and evaluation process found 567 studies to include. Combined with the previous review, 972 articles were synthesized, from which the authors found 28 focused intervention practices that met the criteria for evidence-based practice (EBP). Former EBPs were recategorized and some manualized interventions were distinguished as meeting EBP criteria. The authors discuss implications for current practices and future research.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Children and youth; Evidence-based practice; Focused intervention.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder*
  • Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder* / therapy
  • Child
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Humans
  • Schools
  • Young Adult