ERIC Number: ED189755
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1978
Pages: 24
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
New Tentative Experimental Treatment Approaches to Autism (Breaking Through the Impenetrable Block of Autism).
Lowenstein, L. F.
Literature on treatment approaches used with autistic children was reviewed and the effects of two treatment approaches, psychotherapy and behavior therapy, on three autistic children (10 to 15 years old) were investigated. Data from the literature was considered in light of the following questions: What are the aims or goals in treating autistic children, as practiced in the Lowenstein Therapeutic Community? How much is the condition of autism under voluntary control of the autistic child? Is the condition of autism sometimes relatively or totally impervious to normal human and humane efforts to make contact, and hence communicate with the individual? How are we justified in using desperate means in order to possibly achieve uncertain ends? Ss were submitted to four learning and performance tasks under the conditions of normal instruction, firm or intense instruction, harsh guidance, mild guidance, and firm instructions and harsh versus mild guidance. Among conclusions were that firm or intense instructions are more effective than mild or normal instructions with all types of performance tasks used and with all types of autistic children investigated, that harsh guidance is more effective than mild guidance in speed of performance of simple and more complex tasks with all kinds of autistic children studied, and with more gross manifestations of autism, firm insturctions and harsh methods appear to be especially effective. (SBH)
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A