In a responder analysis, 38% of intervention versus 7% of control children recovered or improved on parent-reported autism symptoms, a non-significant difference¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r1–r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2015 · checked against its sources 2026-11-02 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Based on parent report, five intervention children (38%) recovered or improved versus one control child (7%); the difference was not statistically significant. → Frey 2015 q3 i? Based on teacher report, 46% of intervention versus 31% of control children recovered or improved, a non-significant difference. → Frey 2015 (2)

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 · i? · causal · r1

Responder analysis using Jacobson and Truax's Reliable Change Index and movement into the normative range on the SSiS Autism subscale in the randomized subsample. The article reports the parent-report contrast as not statistically significant; no children displayed deterioration.

"Overall, based on parent report, five intervention children (38%) recovered or improved as compared to one (7%) comparison child"

Frey 2015 (2)¶

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 · i? · causal · r2

Teacher-report responder analysis in the same subsample using the Reliable Change Index and normative-range movement on the SSiS Autism subscale. The article reports this contrast as not statistically significant; equivalence was not tested.

"Thus, based on teacher report, six (46%) children from the interven- tion condition recovered or improved as com- pared to four (31%) 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
• 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 — related
• Parent-reported outcomes for the PFS ADHD-risk subsample improved in the medium range for both home-setting symptoms and social functioning — 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