Guidelines for evaluating intervention programs for children with autism.

It is now well recognized that early diagnosis and intervention improves the prognosis for children with autism. It is crucial that professionals be aware and sensitive to the needs of autistic persons and their families. We must never lose sight of the long-term goal of treatment and must not become so infatuated with any one treatment that we fail to provide the education parents need. It is incumbent upon us, as professionals, to educate parents and help them evaluate the myriad of information with which they are bombarded. In this article a framework for thinking about autism and principles of evaluation are reviewed. Components of appropriate early intervention programs are then described and guidelines for evaluating alternative treatments are provided.