研究證明Denver模式的干預對自閉癥孩子的智力，溝通能力和社交技能有明顯提高

Early Intervention For Toddlers With Autism Highly Effective, Study Finds

Significant gains seen in IQ, communication and social interaction

研究證明Denver模式的干預對自閉癥孩子的智力，溝通能力和社交技能有明顯提高

SEATTLE, WASH. (November 30, 2009) – A novel early intervention program for very young children with autism – some as young as 18 months – is effective for improving IQ, language ability, and social interaction, a comprehensive new study has found.
西雅圖（2009年11月30日）- 一個新的針對幼兒自閉癥的早期干預被證明對于提高幼兒的智商，語言能力和社交技能有明顯的效果。（最小能用這個治療方式的孩子是18個月大）。

"This is the first controlled study of an intensive early intervention that is appropriate for children with autism who are less than 2½ years of age. Given that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all 18- and 24-month-old children be screened for autism, it is crucial that we can offer parents effective therapies for children in this age range," said Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer of Autism Speaks and the study's lead author. "By starting as soon as the toddler is diagnosed, we hope to maximize the positive impact of the intervention."
“這是第一個針對2歲半以下自閉癥早期干預的對照研究。由于美國兒童協會建議給所有18到24個月大的孩子做自閉癥的篩查，所以如果能同時提供給家長有效的治療方式就變得非常重要” Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks 首席科學官員兼這個研究的作者說到?！叭绻谟變阂槐淮_診就開始給予治療，我們希望能把效果做到最好?！?/SPAN>

The study, published online today in the journal Pediatrics, examined an intervention called the Early Start Denver Model, which combines applied behavioral analysis (ABA) teaching methods with developmental 'relationship-based' approaches. This approach was novel because it blended the rigor of ABA with play-based routines that focused on building a relationship with the child. While the youngest children in the study were 18 months old, the intervention is designed to be appropriate for children with autism as young as 12 months of age. Although previous studies have found that early intervention can be helpful for preschool-aged children, interventions for children who are toddlers are just now being tested. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and impairment in verbal communication and social interaction. It is reported to affect one in 100 children in the United States.
這個研究在“兒科學術期刊”發表。Early Start Denver Model (及早開始的丹佛模式-博主譯)，是集合應用行為治療（ABA）和發展“關系為基礎”的方法。這是一個全新的方法，因為它把嚴緊的ABA與以游戲為基礎的程序混合，使它們幫助幼兒建立人際關系。 雖然這項研究最小的被試是18個月大，但是整個教學模式對于12個月大以上的孩子都是適用的。 早期的研究顯示只要是學齡前的孩子，早期干預就可以有效地幫助他們，但是3歲前的研究這個是第一個。自閉癥是一個終身的神經發展障礙，主要表現為重復性的行為，語言溝通和社會交流的缺失。在美國每100個孩子就有1個是自閉癥。

"Infant brains are quite malleable so with this therapy we're trying to capitalize on the potential of learning that an infant brain has in order to limit autism's deleterious effects, to help children lead better lives," said Sally Rogers, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, a study co-author and a researcher at the UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif. Rogers and Dawson developed the intervention.
“嬰兒的腦子是比較具有延展性的，所以用這個治療我們可以盡量強化嬰兒腦部的學習能力從而減低由于自閉癥所帶來的有害的影響，讓孩子以后能生活得更好” Sally Rogers，精神科和行為科學教授，UC Davis MIND Institute的研究員說到。

The five-year study took place at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle and was led by Dawson, then a professor of psychology and director of the university's Autism Center, in partnership with Rogers. It involved therapy for 48 diverse, 18- to 30-month-old children with autism and no other health problems. Milani Smith, who oversees the UW Autism Center's clinical programs, provided day-to-day oversight.
這個長達5年的研究在西雅圖的華盛頓大學進行。它的治療包括了48個18個月到30個月的健康自閉癥幼兒。

The children were separated into two groups, one that received 20 hours a week of the intervention – two two-hour sessions five days a week – from UW specialists. They also received five hours a week of parent-delivered therapy. Children in the second group were referred to community-based programs for therapy. Both groups' progress was monitored by UW researchers. At the beginning of the study there was no substantial difference in functioning between the two groups.
幼兒被分成2個組，ESDM組接受每周20小時的治療（每周5天，每天2節2小時的課），由大學的專家治療，另外家長每周給幼兒提供5小時的治療。對照組接受社會性為主的治療。

At the conclusion of the study, the IQs of the children in the intervention group had improved by an average of approximately 18 points, compared to a little more than four points in the comparison group. The intervention group also had a nearly 18-point improvement in receptive language (listening and understanding) compared to approximately 10 points in the comparison group. Seven of the children in the intervention group had enough improvement in overall skills to warrant a change in diagnosis from autism to the milder condition known as 'pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified,' or PDD-NOS. Only one child in the community-based intervention group had an improved diagnosis.
研究的結論，在接受ESDM治療的孩子在智力上平均提高了18分，對照組是4分多一點。ESDM組在接受性語言（聆聽和理解）提高了18分，對照組為10分。ESDM組里有7個孩子再接受診斷時已經從自閉癥轉為廣泛性發展障礙非特定型或一般所稱的「非典型自閉癥」，而對照組只有1個。

"We believe that the ESDM group made much more progress because it involved carefully structured teaching and a relationship-based approach to learning with many, many learning opportunities embedded in the play," Rogers said.
“我們相信ESDM組之所以得到更多的進步是因為它包含了非常認真有系統的教學和以關系發展為基礎的學習模式，讓孩子在玩的時候充滿的學習的機會”Rogers 說。

"Parental involvement and use of these strategies at home during routine and daily activities are likely important ingredients of the success of the outcomes and their child's progress. The study strongly affirms the positive outcomes of early intervention and the need for the earliest possible start," Dawson said.
“家長的參與和把相關的步驟用在家里和日常生活上也是一個非常重要的成功原因。這個研究證明了早期干預的效果和重要性?！?/SPAN>Dawson 說。

In this study, the intervention was provided in a toddler's natural environment (their home) and delivered by trained therapists and parents who received instruction and training as part of the model.
這個研究，治療是在幼兒熟悉的環境中（家里）進行，而提供治療的是受過專業訓練的治療師和家長。

"Parents and therapists both carried out the intervention toward individualized goals for each child, and worked collaboratively to improve how the children were responding socially, playing with toys, and communicating," said Milani Smith, associate director of the UW Autism Center and a study co-author. "Parents are taught strategies for capturing their children's attention and promoting communication. By using these strategies throughout the day, the children were offered many opportunities to learn to interact with others."
“家長和治療師同時給幼兒進行個別學習計劃的內容，他們共同幫助孩子提高社交能力，游戲技巧和溝通能力” Milani Smith ，華盛頓大學自閉癥中心的副主任?！凹议L接受如何抓住孩子的注意力和促進溝通的步驟和技巧。通過這些技巧，全天應用在孩子的身上，能讓他們有更多的機會學習如何與他人互動?！?/SPAN>

Other study authors include Jeffrey Munson, Jamie Winter, Jessica Greenson, and Jennifer Varley, all of UW Autism Center or the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Amy Donaldson of the department of speech and hearing science, Portland State University, Portland, Ore.

The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH has also funded a multi-site trial of the Early Start Denver Model which is currently being conducted at the University of Washington, the UC Davis MIND Institute and the University of Michigan.

"Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Intervention for Toddlers With Autism: The Early Start Denver Model."
Geraldine Dawson, Sally Rogers, Jeffrey Munson, Milani Smith, Jamie Winter, Jessica Greenson, Amy Donaldson, and Jennifer Varley.
Pediatrics, Nov 2009.
DOI:10.1542/peds.2009-0958

（文章來自Autism Speaks, 博主譯）