Preschool First Step reduced teacher-reported ASD symptoms and problem behaviors in children at risk for ASD, with Hedges' g from -0.65 to -1.12¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2015 · checked against its sources 2026-11-02 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 Children at risk for ASD receiving First Step improved on all teacher-reported symptom measures (autism, maladaptive, aggressive behavior) relative to control. → Frey 2015

q3 i2 Children at risk for developing ASD who received First Step improved on all teacher-reported symptom measures compared to control, with Hedges' g from -.65 to -1.12. → Frey 2015

Evidence¶

Frey 2015¶

Frey, A. J., Small, J. W., Feil, E. G., Seeley, J. R., Walker, H. M., & Forness, S. (2015). First Step to Success: Applications to Preschoolers at Risk of Developing Autism Spectrum Disorders. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50(4), 397-407. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED581234

q3 · i2 · causal · r2

Subsample analysis (n=34; 17 intervention, 17 control) of a randomized controlled trial of Preschool First Step, using covariate-adjusted regression models. "Hedges' g effect sizes ranged from" -0.65 to -1.12 for teacher-reported symptom reductions; Table 3 reports SSiS Autism g = -0.65 (p = .020), ESP MBI g = -1.12 (p = .006), ESP ABS g = -0.98 (p = .004).

"Children at risk for developing ASD who received the First Step intervention improved on all teacher-reported measures assessing symptoms (autism, maladaptive, and aggressive behavior) and on two of the four measures of functioning compared to children in the control condition."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Autism Spectrum Disorder — outcome: instruction changes it
• Learning Disabilities and Developmental Differences — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Parents of children at risk for ASD reported significantly greater reductions in autism symptoms and gains in empathy after First Step, with medium-to-large but non-significant effects on communication and cooperation — related
• In a responder analysis, 38% of intervention versus 7% of control children recovered or improved on parent-reported autism symptoms, a non-significant difference — related
• The ASD-risk subsample differed from the non-identified sample on all parent-reported baseline outcomes but on only one teacher-reported measure (SSiS Empathy) — related
• Parents of children at risk of ASD reported significantly greater reductions in autism symptoms and improved empathy after First Step, with non-significant medium effects on communication and cooperation — related
• Based on teacher report, 46% of intervention children versus 31% of control children recovered or improved on the SSiS Autism subscale, a non-significant difference — related
• Initial kindergarten placement was driven by district-level policy rather than children's developmental level, with no correspondence between preschool outcome quartile and placement — related