Outcomes and moderators of Early Start Denver Model intervention in young children with autism spectrum disorder delivered in a mixed individual and group setting

Lay Abstract The Early Start Denver Model is an early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder. The Early Start Denver Model is well supported by research conducted in university as well as community settings. We know very little about pre-treatment factors that lead to the best outcomes regarding the Early Start Denver Model as well as other kinds of early interventions for autism spectrum disorder. Outcomes of 32 children who participated for 1 year in community-based Early Start Denver Model were examined with the aim to identify factors predicting the best outcomes. Participants, as a group, improved their communication and daily living skills and showed improvement in their autism spectrum disorder symptoms. However, great variability in outcomes was found and this seemed to be related to pre-treatment non-verbal skills, symptom severity, action and gesture repertoire, and word understanding. Our results may lead to developing "personalized" treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder.