Lovaas technique

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The Lovaas technique, a form of Applied Behavior Analysis, is a therapy for children diagnosed with autism or related disorders. The technique consists of an intensive behavioral intervention which is carried out early in the development of autistic children.

Contents 1 Treatment 2 Effectiveness 3 Aversives 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Treatment

The Lovaas technique involves discrete-trial teaching, breaking skills down into their most basic components and rewarding positive performance. The Lovaas technique was also unique and now infamous for the extensive use of aversives to punish unwanted behaviors.

[edit] Effectiveness

The Lovaas technique was developed by O. Ivar Lovaas based on research performed by Lovaas and his assistants.^[1] This research stated that 47% of those children that had received 30-40 hours of intensive therapy were mainstreamed into regular classrooms, and were classified as "indistinguishable" from their peers in follow-up studies.

[edit] Aversives

While the therapy has always relied principally on positive reinforcements of preferred behavior, Lovaas's original technique also included aversives such as striking, shouting "No!" at the child, or using electroshocks.^[2] These procedures have been widely abandoned for over a decade. A review of literature by autistic activist Michelle Dawson found that the method has become less effective since these stimuli were abandoned,^[3] but many replications of Lovaas' 1987 study have yielded results in the 40-50% range. More current studies,^[4] have demonstrated dramatic improvement for children enrolled in DTT style 40-hour ABA programs with 1:1 teacher/child ratio. This is in direct contrast to moderate gains from so-called "eclectic" programs that combine many autism-specific methodologies, despite even a 1:1 teacher/child ratio, and generalized multi-disability special education classes, which scored lowest in terms of benefit to the child.

[edit] See also

• Ethical challenges to autism treatment

[edit] External links

• Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention
• The Lovaas Approach Revisited

[edit] References

1. ^ Lovaas, O. I. (1987). Behavioral treatment and normal intellectual and educational functioning in autistic children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 3-9.
2. ^ *"Screams, Slaps & Love: A surprising, shocking treatment helps far-gone mental cripples".
3. ^ The Misbehaviour of Behaviourists: Ethical Challenges to the Autism-ABA Industry, retrieved February 19th, 2007.
4. ^ Howard, Sparkman, Cohen, Green, & Stanislaw, (2005). A comparison of intensive behavior analytic and eclectic treatments for young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, pp. 359-383.