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A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Daily Living Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism

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Abstract

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without an intellectual disability have daily living skills (DLS) impairments. An initial feasibility pilot of Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW), a group intervention that targets DLS, demonstrated significant improvements. A pilot RCT of STRW was conducted to extend these findings. Twelve adolescents with ASD were randomized to the treatment or waitlist groups. The treatment group had significant DLS improvements on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3rd Edition and the DLS goal attainment scale. Four adolescents from the waitlist crossed over and completed STRW. Entire sample analyses with 10 participants demonstrated large DLS gains. Results provide further evidence of the efficacy of STRW for closing the gap between DLS and chronological age.

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Funding

This study was funded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development with Grant No. K23 HD094855-01A1 and U.S. Department of Defense Grant No. W81XWH-18-1-0677.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, MLC 3015, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Amie Duncan, Carrie Fassler & Lori J. Stark

  2. Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, MLC 5041, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Jareen Meinzen-Derr

  3. Teachers College, Ball State University, TC745, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    Lisa A. Ruble

  4. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Amie Duncan, Jareen Meinzen-Derr & Lori J. Stark

Authors
  1. Amie Duncan
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  2. Jareen Meinzen-Derr
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  3. Lisa A. Ruble
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  4. Carrie Fassler
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  5. Lori J. Stark
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Contributions

Conceptualization were performed by Dr. D, Dr. S and Dr. R. The Data Curation Were Performed by Dr. D and Dr. F. The Formal analysis Were Performed by Dr. D, Dr. MD and Dr. S. Investigation Were Performed by Dr. D. The Methodology Were Performed by Dr. D, Dr. S, Dr. R and Dr. MD. The Writing– original draft Were Performed by Dr. D. The Writing – review and editing Were Performed by Dr. D, Dr. MD, Dr. R, Dr. F

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Correspondence to Amie Duncan.

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Duncan, A., Meinzen-Derr, J., Ruble, L.A. et al. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Daily Living Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 938–949 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04993-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04993-y

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