The present study suggests that initial learning rates of young children with autism receiving early, intensive, home-based behavioral intervention are moderately correlated with outcome variables after four years of treatment. 20 children with autism who had Childhood Autism Rating Scale scores between 37.5 and 58 and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales scores between 38 and 63 at the beginning of treatment were re-evaluated after 4 years of treatment through the Rutgers Autism Program. School placement follow-up data were also available after 4 years. Treatment data reflecting rate of initial acquisition of skills was significantly correlated with school placement, severity of autism symptomatology, and adaptive behavior profiles four years into treatment, with those children having faster early skill acquisition showing greater gains in adaptive functioning, fewer or less severe symptoms of autism, and less restrictive educational placements after 4 years. The data are consistent with previous research showing the impact of intensive ABA intervention and variability in outcomes associated with such intervention, and also lend support to other published findings that early learning rates are correlated with outcome. Key Words: Early Behavioral Intervention, Home based Programs, Outcome, Learning Rates, Autism
