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conferenceseries.com
Volume 2, Issue 4 (Suppl) Clin Pediatr, an open access journal
ISSN: 2572-0775 Pediatrics & Pediatric Neurology 2017
August 31-September 02, 2017
August 31-September 02, 2017 | Prague, Czech Republic
13th European
Pediatrics & Pediatric Neurology Conference
Early intervention for autism spectrum disorder: What the evidence says
Karola Dillenburger
Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are pervasive developmental disorders that are diagnosed along a continuum of
behavioural variants in social interaction, communication, and imagination. Some individuals on the spectrum are
‘high-functioning’ and able to cope in every day environments, while others are severely affected, non-verbal, and may
have comorbid diagnoses, such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and/or obsessional, conduct, or mental health disorders. If
untreated, the lifetime cost to society for each individual with ASD is estimated between £0.9-1.5 million depending on the
level of functioning. Of course, the cost for quality of life for the individual and their family is much higher and the potential
economic and social impact of effective interventions is enormous. Despite the general endorsement of evidence-based
behaviour analytic interventions across most of North America, a more controversial approach is taken by governments across
much of Europe (including UK and Ireland) to support an ‘eclectic’ approach, although there are no clear guidelines what this
entails and not a single study is published anywhere to show effectiveness of an eclectic approach being equal or superior to
ABA-based interventions. In contrast, the evidence base showing the efficacy and effectiveness of ABA-based interventions
spans all valid and recognised research methodologies. A skilled Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (cf. ) identifies
the appropriate intervention on the basis of a functional assessment and analysis of the target behaviour. It is important to note
that behaviour is defined holistically as the interaction of an organism with their environment, including anything we do, e..g,
feeling, thinking and acting.This talk outlines the evidence.
Biography
Karola Dillenburger BCBA-D is Professor of Behaviour Analysis and Education and Director of the Centre for Behaviour Analysis (CBA) at the School of Social
Sciences, Education, and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. The CBA offers the MScASD and the MScABA, that includes an approved
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) distant learning course sequence. Professor Dillenburger’s research focuses on bereavement and trauma as well as
on evidence-based early intervention for vulnerable children, and parenting across the lifespan. She has published widely and has held honorary appointments in
Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, Canada, and USA.
Karola Dillenburger, Clin Pediatr 2017, 2:4 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2572-0775-C1-002