Results are comparable with several other studies with a similar or slightly higher therapeutic intensity implementing comparable or different early intervention methods or programs .
Compared to most high-intensity programs ( 30–40 h/week ) , lower cognitive gains were observed .
Different early intervention programs , developed predominantly in the US , for preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) have been published .
Several systematic review articles including a German Health Technology Assessment on behavioural and skill-based early interventions in children with ASD reported insufficient evidence and a substantial problem of generalisability to the German context .
In Germany , approx .
2–5 h early intervention is supported by social services .
Autism in adults: symptom patterns and early childhood predictors. Use of the DISCO in a community sample followed from childhood.
BACKGROUND Few studies have looked at the very long-term outcome of individuals with autism who were diagnosed in childhood . METHODS A longitudinal , prospect i ve , community-based follow-up study of adults who had received the diagnosis of autism ( classic and atypical ) in childhood ( n = 105 ) was conducted . A structured interview ( the Diagnostic Interview for Social and COmmunication disorders -- the DISCO ) was used in order to evaluate symptoms and symptom patterns 13 - 22 years after original diagnosis . Childhood measures , including IQ-level at time of childhood diagnosis and communicative speech registered before age 5 years , were studied in relation to the presence of autism symptoms at follow-up . RESULTS The classical and atypical autism groups were fairly homogeneously impaired in terms of symptoms in the social interaction category whereas other common childhood autism symptoms , including maladaptive and stereotyped behaviours , were more variable in the study group at follow-up . Odd responses to sensory stimuli were still extremely common . Speech before 5 years of age , IQ , gender , diagnosed medical disorder and onset of epilepsy before 5 years were variables that correlated to outcome on the DISCO algorithm for autistic spectrum disorders ( Wing & Gould , 1979 ) concerning style and quality of social interaction , communication style and pattern of self-chosen activities . CONCLUSIONS Social interaction problems were still present in the vast majority of adults with autism/atypical autism , but behavioural impairments were much more variable in adulthood . Almost all cases were reported to show persistent perceptual problems . Certain childhood measures were found to prospect ively predict adult social interaction style , communication type , and pattern of self-chosen activities , which still met diagnostic criteria for autism/atypical autism in adulthood
Results are comparable with several other studies with a similar or slightly higher therapeutic intensity implementing comparable or different early intervention methods or programs .
Compared to most high-intensity programs ( 30–40 h/week ) , lower cognitive gains were observed .
Different early intervention programs , developed predominantly in the US , for preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) have been published .
Several systematic review articles including a German Health Technology Assessment on behavioural and skill-based early interventions in children with ASD reported insufficient evidence and a substantial problem of generalisability to the German context .
In Germany , approx .
2–5 h early intervention is supported by social services .