OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effectiveness of intensive one-on-one behavioral treatment in the home or neighborhood compared with at home, individualized, parent training in preschool aged children with autism.

II. Identify intake measures that predict differences in outcome between subjects in the experimental group.

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Children are randomized to receive either 35 hours of intensive one-on-one behavioral treatment in the home and neighborhood for 2 years or individualized, in home parent training for 6 months.

A common group of tests to evaluate autism are administered at intake, 12 and 24 months into treatment, and when patients reach age 6.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

Diagnosis of autism based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview using the ICD-10 research criteria

Ratio IQ score greater than 35 determined from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development

--Patient Characteristics--

Other:

Must reside within 60 km (37.5 miles) of a treatment site

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Severe medically induced limitations defined as:

• Any condition requiring prosthetic devices (e.g., blindness, deafness, or cerebral palsy)
• Any illness that has prevented or would prevent a subject from participating in 30 hours a week of treatment for six consecutive weeks or more (e.g., metastasized cancer or end stage renal disease)
• Any known genetic disorder (e.g., Fragile X, PKU, or Down Syndrome)
• Any other disorder that rules out autism according to ICD-10 criteria (e.g., Rett's Syndrome)