Early Intensive Behavior Intervention for Autism: An Outcome Study of Children in Kuwait

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) is a behavioral treatment program based on the principles and procedures of Applied Behavior Analysis; with its core features being that it begins early` in a child`s development (4 years of age or younger) and that it is intensive (a minimum of 20 hours a week). Over the years EIBI continues to be supported by scientific evidence and thus has shape the health policies of many countries around the world that provide EIBI. In Kuwait, while EIBI is provided, research on its efficacy is non-existent. The objective of this study is to evaluated the efficacy of various factors of EIBI as it specifies to Kuwait. The present study aims to evaluate treatment progress for children receiving EIBI services at the Applied Behavior Center of Kuwait. Particularly the effect of treatment intensity on treatment outcomes, and how these outcomes vary by age. Between-subject ANOVAs will be conducted to predict treatment progress based on the average weekly treatment hours received and the child`s age at enrollment. Each of these variables is predicted to be a significant indicator of the variance in marked improvement. Implications of results for this study should go towards implementing a health policy that provides effective treatment for individuals with ASD.