A Developmental and Sequenced One-to-One Educational Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial

A developmental and sequenced one-to-one educational intervention (DS1-EI) for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: A three-year randomized, single-blind controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) are an understudied population whose school inclusion is challenging.

METHODS

We assessed the effects of "Developmental and Sequenced one-to-one Educational Intervention" (DS1-EI), a ten-hour-per-week adapted instruction programme for five- to nine-year-old children with ASD and ID treated in outpatient health care institutions. A single-blind multisite randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare DS1-EI given for three years with treatment as usual (TAU)(trial registration numbers: ANSM130282B-31 (April 16, 2013) and ACTRN12616000592448). The primary outcome was the change in the psycho-educational profile (PEP). Secondary variables included the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale-II (VABS-II), Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and annual assessment of educational achievement. Statistical analyses used linear mixed models.

FINDINGS

Seventy-two participants with severe ASD and ID were recruited. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed no significant group*time interaction for the PEP, CARS, ADI-R, VABS-II and CGAS but a significant effect for educational achievement with a better improvement in the DS1-EI group. At the 36-month time point, more DS1-EI children were included in mainstream classrooms. Additional analyses using multivariate models taking into account moderating variables at the baseline (e.g., Developmental Quotient) confirmed that DS1-EI had a significant effect on educational outcomes.

INTERPRETATION

DS1-EI did not improve communication or social skills in children with ASD and ID compared with TAU. However, DS1-EI enhanced school skills in four domains (language, mathematics, inter modality, and school autonomy) favouring inclusion in mainstream classrooms more than TAU. Providing such adapted instruction is feasible and should be encouraged.

FUNDING

CNSA; Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller; Fondation EDF.

Developmental and sequenced one-to-one educational intervention (DS1-EI) for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: a two-year interim report of a randomized single-blind multicenter controlled trial

Background

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID) face many challenges. There is little evidence-based research into educational settings for children with ID and ASD and in France. Little is known about how this unserved population could benefit from intervention and education. This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a new intervention model using an individualized educational approach.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, single-blind controlled trial to assess a novel intervention: the “Developmental and Sequenced One-to-One Intervention (DS1-EI)”. In DS1-EI, trained teachers worked one-to-one with each child in a small classroom setting, offering 10 h per week of the intervention. The focus was on encouraging spontaneous communication, promoting skills through play with peers, supporting positive interactions, and developmental and sequenced learning. We enrolled 5- to 9-year-old children with ASD and ID across 11 French child care institutions for children with co-occurring ASD and ID. Participants were matched in dyads by developmental quotient and randomized to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group or the DS1-EI group. Independent raters blindly assessed the primary variables: The Childhood Autism Rating scale (CARS) and the Psychoeducational Profile, third edition (PEP-3). The secondary variables included the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II (VABS-II) and the Clinical Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Here we perform interim analyses at 24 months.

Results

At baseline, 72 participants were randomized. Nine patients (5 in the DS1-EI group and 4 in the TAU group) dropped out of the study. Using linear mixed models, both intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses at the 12-, 18- and 24-month outcomes showed no significant group nor group-by-time interaction effects. However, we found significant improvements in most primary and secondary variables over time in both groups.

Conclusions

The study did not show that DS1-EI was superior to TAU in treating children with ASD and ID over 24 months. However, the low dropout rate shows that DS1-EI is feasible, and well accepted. As the study is still ongoing, we need to wait for data at 36 months to ensure whether DS1-EI could be recommended.

Trial registration

ANSM130282B-31 (April 16, 2013) and ACTRN12616000592448. Registered 6 May 2016, retrospectively registered, http://www.anzctr.org.au/

Clinical outcomes of interactive, intensive and individual (3i) play therapy for children with ASD: a two-year follow-up study

Background

The outcomes of psycho-educational interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) comorbid with severe to moderate intellectual disability (ID) are insufficiently documented. In this prospective study, we examined a developmental individual, interactive and intensive approach, called the ‘3i method’, which is based on play therapy.

Methods

Twenty DSM-IV-TR ASD subjects (mean chronological age 63.8 ± 37.8 months; mean developmental age 19.5 ± 6.6 months) were included and followed the 3i method for 24 months. Developmental and behavioural skills were assessed at baseline and after 24 months using the VABS, PEP-R and Nadel Imitation scale. Autism severity was evaluated using the Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R).

Results

After 2 years of the 3i method, our 3 primary outcome variables significantly increased (VABS developmental age of socialization increased by 83%, age of communication by 34%, and Nadel Imitation score by 53%). Almost all VABS and PEP-R domains significantly improved. Additionally, increases in the VABS socialization score were positively correlated with the total number of treatment hours and CARS score; all ADI-R areas significantly decreased; and diagnoses had changed in 47.5% of the subjects (37% for PDD-NOS and even 10.5% for ID without PDD).

Conclusion

Children who followed the 3i method for 2 years had significantly improved behavioural and developmental skills and showed a clear decrease in autism severity. These results suggest that the 3i method may be useful for autistic children by improving their daily interactions with their social environment.

Trial registration

was retrospectively registered on May 20th, 2014 by the French Agency for drug and health (ANSM) under number ID-RCB 2014-A00542–45, reference: B148558–31.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-018-1126-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.