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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

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Intensive behavioural interventions based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) for young children with autism: A

Robert Hodgson1, Mousumi Biswas2, Stephen Palmer3

  • 1Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, United Kingdom.

Plos One
|August 16, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Early intensive Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) interventions for autistic children in the UK show higher costs and uncertain value for money. Further research is needed to clarify long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Health Economics
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents significant economic and social burdens.
  • Early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes in autistic children.
  • Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a common intervention approach for ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early intensive ABA-based interventions for pre-school autistic children in the UK.
  • To compare ABA interventions with treatment as usual (TAU) from a public sector perspective.

Main Methods:

  • A de novo economic analysis using a 15.5-year time horizon.
  • Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis informed the model.
  • Costs and benefits were discounted at 3.5% annually.

Main Results:

  • Early intensive ABA therapies incurred higher costs but yielded greater benefits.
  • The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) ranged from £46,768 to £189,122 per QALY, depending on assumptions.
  • Adult outcomes and school type significantly influenced the analysis results.

Conclusions:

  • Early intensive ABA interventions are unlikely to meet UK healthcare funding thresholds (£20,000-£30,000/QALY).
  • Evidence gaps regarding long-term outcomes limit definitive conclusions.
  • Further research on post-intervention trajectories is recommended.
Abstract

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