Treatments for autism: parental choices and perceptions of change.
Parents naturally abandon non-evidence-based autism treatments when they do not see quick gains—use this to guide candid conversations about realistic timelines for ABA.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bowker et al. (2011) asked parents what treatments they tried for their kids with autism. Parents listed everything from special diets to ABA.
The team then asked, 'Did you quit anything?' Most parents said yes, but only when they saw no change in their child.
What they found
Parents drop non-evidence-based choices fast when gains do not show up. They keep going with ABA and other proven tools longer.
Quick wins matter to families. If a treatment feels slow, parents move on.
How this fits with other research
Lawer et al. (2009) adds a twist: parents follow medical advice better than behavioral plans. Anne's survey shows the same parents will still ditch a plan if results lag.
Callahan et al. (2008) found parents, teachers, and bosses all agree on what good ABA looks like. Anne shows parents act on that agreement by staying with EBPs that match those features.
Schreck et al. (2016) explains why parents even try fad diets: TV hypes them. Anne shows parents drop those diets once hype meets reality.
Jurek et al. (2023) review backs Anne: parents feel stress, but they stay engaged when they see child progress. The two studies together say, 'Show gains early and keep supporting the parent.'
Why it matters
You can use Anne's finding in your next parent meeting. Tell them, 'ABA is a marathon, but you should see small wins within weeks.' Point to daily data so parents spot those wins fast. If they understand the timeline, they are less likely to drift into unproven options.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Empirically conducted studies of the efficacy of various treatments for autism are limited, which leaves parents with little evidence on which to base their treatment decisions (Kasari, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32: 447-461, 2002). The purpose of this study was to examine the types of treatments in current use by families of children with ASD. In addition, parents' perceptions of improvement in their child's functioning were explored. Through an online survey, a sample of 970 parents of ASD children reported on the treatments currently in use, those discontinued, and reasons for discontinuation. Results indicate that most families adopt multiple treatment approaches. Parents were most likely to discontinue non-evidence based treatments when they did not see improvement in their child's functioning.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2011 · doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1164-y