Summer Treatment Program Improves Behavior of Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Elisabeth Sheridan Mitchell1, Sylvie Mrug, Cryshelle S Patterson
1Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HMB 195, 1720 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA, esm9015@med.cornell.edu.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the effects of a behavioral summer treatment program for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). Twenty boys (M = 9.2 years) diagnosed with HFASD participated in the 6-week program across 6 years. Detailed daily behavioral data were collected on a variety of positive and negative social behaviors. Repeated measures ANOVAs of weekly behavior frequencies indicated substantial improvements in a number of behaviors over the 6 weeks of the program, including following activity rules, contributing to a group discussion, paying attention, and less complaining/whining. Overall, results highlight the potential efficacy of treating chronic functional impairments of HFASD and associated problem behaviors in the context of an intensive behavioral summer treatment program.
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