Sources of Information on Lovaas Therapy for Children with Autism

Video Tapes [top]

1. "Behavioral Treatment for Autistic Children", By O. Ivar Lovaas. (The university libraries all have copies).

This is an excellent introduction to the Lovaas Method and its tremendous potential.

2. "The Child Who Couldn't Play", By David Suzuki, from the C.B.C. series "The Nature of Things".

Best Selling Books [top]

1. Maurice, Catherine. Let Me Hear Your Voice. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993.

This is the story of a mother who used the behavioral technique pioneered by Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas at the University of California at Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) to treat two of her children, both diagnosed with autism. She describes the therapy from the beginning up until the time when both her children were indistinguishable from their peers. Dr. Lovaas has a chapter at the end of the book (page 324) and Appendix II contains many of the drills used. This is the best "light reading" on the method.

2. Johnson, C. and J. Crowder. AUTISM:: From Tragedy To Triumph. Boston, M.A.: Branden Publishing Co. Inc., 1994.

This is another story of a mother who used the Lovaas method (based on Behavioural theory) to treat her son who was diagnosed with Autism. This is a very quick read but does not go into as much depth about the treatment is the Maurice book, listed above.

Technical and Academic Material [top]

1. Technical Teaching Manual of the method Lovaas, I. O. Teaching Developmentally Disabled Children: The ME Book. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed, 1981.

This is the detailed instruction manual that is the basis for therapy programs using the Lovaas method.

2. Maurice, Catherine. Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism. Austin, Texas, Pro-Ed, 1996.

This is a comprehensive book which goes into great detail on how to set up, and administer an intensive early intervention program using the technique pioneered by Lovaas.

3. Leaf, Ron and John McEachin.   A work in Progress:  Behavior Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism.  New York, NY:  DRL Books, LLC, 1999.

This is a book which goes into great detail about Intensive Behavioral Treastment and provides a sample curriculum based on the practices of Autism Partnership, which is a company that sets up and maintains intensive bheavioral treastment programs world-wide.  The two authors both received their Ph.D.'s while studying at U.C.L.A. and working in the Young Autism Clinic under the direction of Dr. Lovaas.

Samples of Journal Articles based on the method pioneered by Dr. Lovaas. [top]

Lovaas, O.I. "Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children", Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 1987, 55, 3-9.

Lovaas, O. I. The Autistic Child: Language Development Through Behavior modification. New York: Irvington, 1977.

Lovaas, O.I. & Smith T. "Intensive behavioral treatment for young autistic children". In B.B. Lahey & A.E. Kazdin (Eds.), Advances in Clinical Child Psychology, (Vol. II). New York: Plenum Press, 1988. Pp. 285-324.

Lovaas, O.I., & Smith, T. "A comprehensive behavioral theory of autistic children: Paradigm for research and treatment", Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 1989, 20, 17-29.

McEachin, J.J., Smith, T. and Lovaas, O.I. "Long-term outcome for children with autism who received early intensive behavioral treatment", American Journal on Mental Retardation, 1993, 97, 359-372.

Smith, et al.  "Intensive behavioral treatment for preschoolers with severe mental retardation and perviseve developmental disorder", American Journal of Mental Retardation, 1997, 102, 238-249.

Anderson, S.R., et al.   "Intensive home-based early intervention with autistic children.  Special Issue:  New developments in the treatment of persons exhibiting autism and severe behavior disorders.  Education and Treatment of Children, 1987, 352-366.

Birnbrauer, JS and Leach, D.J.   "The Murdoch Early Intervention Program after 2 years."  Behaviour Change, 1993, 10, 63-74.

Sheinkopf, S.J., and Siegel, B.   "Home-based behavioral treatment of young children with autism.  Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1998, 23, 15-23.