This program is for children with autism who are 2 to 8 years old and their parents.

The Lovaas Model of Applied Behavior Analysis (Lovaas Model), also known as Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), is a community- and school-based, family treatment program that uses the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis to provide individualized services for children with autism. The program is comprehensive, tailored to children's needs, and integrated into many aspects of participants' lives.

Multiple evaluations of the Lovaas Model provide evidence that program participants experience a variety of positive effects, including increased IQ scores, language comprehension, academic skills, adaptive behaviors, visual-spatial skills, and daily living skills when compared to control children. Independent evaluations have also demonstrated increases with children's socialization, communication, and adaptive behaviors. Overall results indicate positive results; however, research that lacked rigorous research designs failed to replicate results. Additional studies are needed that use randomized or well-matched quasi-experimental designs in larger sample sizes and demonstrate sustained, positive outcomes.

The Lovaas Model is an intensive program that is customized to the individual child. Program staff work closely with each participant and divide skills into manageable pieces, so the child can master each section while understanding how to learn within his or her natural environment. Program goals vary depending on the age and developmental stage of the child but often include the following:

• Develop and expand communication;
• Build relationships;
• Strengthen academic and daily living skills; and
• Function within community and school contexts.

Common components of the program include the following tasks:

• Short periods of structured time-on-task are followed by periods of free play;
• Breaks at the end of each hour used for incidental teaching and generalization of newly learned skills;
• Facilitated peer play;
• Extensive family involvement; and
• Use of support and positive reinforcements to teach and build skills.

The Lovaas Model has been used widely throughout the United States since the 1970s and has been implemented in various other countries.

This program is delivered by Lovaas staff who have completed or are pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. Lovaas staff are trained on site and receive on-going supervision by case managers and clinical directors. For additional information on training, please use details in the Contact section.

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting dedicated facilitators and ensuring they complete training, acquiring buy-in from families as their time involvement could be extensive, and finding time to implement the full model.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing the Lovaas Model, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Lovaas staff work with children for 35 to 40 hours a week. The structured time-on-task lasts from 3 to 5 minutes, and free play lasts 3 to 5 minutes. The breaks at the end of each hour last 10 to 15 minutes. The relationship among staff and children can last for multiple years; although, the amount of contact varies and depends on participants' needs.

Implementation costs for the Lovaas Model services vary extensively. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.

To move the Lovaas Model to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least two additional evaluations that have strong research designs and use larger sample sizes should be performed that demonstrate sustained, positive effects lasting at least one year from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact the Lovaas Center by mail 5550 West Flamingo Road, Suite C-5, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103, phone 1-702-877-2520, fax 1-702-877-2521, or visit https://thelovaascenter.com/contact-2/

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/EvidenceSnapshot/295, https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-guide/lovaas-program and https://thelovaascenter.com/