Recent research published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders reveals a significant underrepresentation of children severely affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in treatment studies. This finding has profound implications for practitioners who aim to deliver comprehensive and effective therapy to all children on the autism spectrum.
The study titled Are Children Severely Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder Underrepresented in Treatment Studies? An Analysis of the Literature by Stedman et al. (2019) systematically analyzed 367 treatment studies published between 1991 and 2013. The researchers assessed the representation of severity in three domains: communication ability, cognitive functioning, and adaptive functioning.
Key findings from the study include:
- Decreasing Inclusion Over Time: The proportion of studies including severely affected children has significantly decreased over time. Each subsequent year from 1990 to 2013 saw a 16.5% decrease in the likelihood of including severely affected children.
- Inconsistent Reporting: Cognitive functioning was the most frequently reported domain (65.7%), while adaptive functioning was the least reported (21.8%). Communication ability, a core deficit in ASD, was reported in less than half of the studies (42.2%).
- Variability in Measures: The study found substantial variability in the measures used to assess communication ability, with 32 different measures identified, highlighting the lack of a standardized approach.
These findings underscore the importance of ensuring that treatment studies include children across the entire autism spectrum, particularly those who are severely affected. The exclusion of this subset from research can lead to an unbalanced understanding of ASD and hinder the development of effective interventions for those with the greatest need.
For practitioners, the implications are clear:
- Advocate for Inclusive Research: Encourage researchers and funding bodies to prioritize studies that include severely affected children. This can be achieved by advocating for more comprehensive inclusion criteria and standardized measures of severity.
- Use Data-Driven Decisions: When selecting interventions, consider the extent to which the evidence base includes severely affected children. This will help ensure that chosen therapies are effective for the full spectrum of ASD.
- Further Research: Engage in or support further research that specifically targets the severely affected population. This will contribute to a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of ASD and improve outcomes for all children.
By taking these steps, practitioners can help bridge the gap in research and ensure that all children with ASD receive the evidence-based interventions they deserve.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Are Children Severely Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder Underrepresented in Treatment Studies? An Analysis of the Literature.
