Lovaas technique

The Lovaas technique, a form of treatment guided by applied behavior analysis, is a therapy for children diagnosed with autism or related disorders. The technique consists of an intensive behavioral intervention which is carried out early in the development of autistic children. The Lovaas technique involves discrete-trial teaching, breaking skills down into their most basic components and rewarding positive performance. The Lovaas technique was also known for its use of aversives to punish unwanted behaviors.

Effectiveness
The Lovaas technique was developed by O. Ivar Lovaas based on research performed by Lovaas and his assistants. This research reported that 47% of those children that had received 30-40 hours of intensive therapy were mainstreamed into regular classrooms, and were classified as "indistinguishable" from their peers in follow-up studies. These original claims of effectiveness were overstated. A 2005 California study found that early intensive behavior analytic treatment, a form of ABA, was substantially more effective for preschool children with autism than the mixture of methods provided in many programs; this study did not use random assignment or a uniform assessment protocol, and provided limited information about the intervention, making it difficult to replicate.

Aversives
While the therapy has always relied principally on positive reinforcement of preferred behavior, Lovaas's original technique also included considerable use of aversives such as striking, shouting, or using electroshocks. These procedures have been widely abandoned for over a decade. A review of literature by autistic activist Michelle Dawson asserts that the method has become less effective since these stimuli were abandoned. Only one institution, the Judge Rotenberg Center, still employs electric shocks as aversives - a practice that continues to cause them considerable legal and political controversy.

Practical considerations
A concern that parents have brought up regarding the Lovaas technique is the cost, which in April 2002 amounted to about US$4,200 per month ($50,000 annually per child). In addition, the 20-40 hours per week intensity of the program, often conducted at home, may place additional stress on already challenged families.