Age and IQ at intake as predictors of placement for young children with autism: A four- to six-year follow-up

The predictive power of age and IQ at time of admission to an intensive tre atment program using applied behavior analysis were examined in a 4- to 6-y ear follow-up of educational placement. Twenty-seven children with autistic disorder who were between the ages of 31 and 65 months and had IQs on the Stanford Binet between 35 and 109 at time of admission to the Douglass Deve lopmental Disabilities Center were followed up 4 to 6 years after they left the preschool. The results showed that having a higher IQ at intake (M = 7 8) and being of younger age (M = 42 months) were both predictive of being i n a regular education class after discharge, whereas having a lower IQ (M = 46) and being older at intake (M = 54 months) were closely related to plac ement in a special education classroom. The results are interpreted as poin ting to the need for very early intervention for children with Autistic Dis order. It is also emphasized that older children and those with lower IQs i n the present study showed measurable gains in IQ from treatment. The data should not be taken to suggest that children older than 4 years of age do n ot merit high quality treatment.