Research Autism: Completed Research Projects
This section of our website contains information about some of the research projects funded and completed by Research Autism.
Our programme of research is intended to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of people with autism and their families.
Bullying in school
Description: This project was designed to establish the amount and form of bullying of pupils with Asperger syndrome in UK secondary schools
The research showed that a significant proportion of children with autism were bullied and were bullied more often than other children. The research also highlighted important behaviour patterns which might be linked to bullying and social isolation. The pupils with autism also reported having far few fewer friends and were less physically active, potentially leading to long term mental and physical health problems
Impact: This project provided important information about the amount and form of bullying of pupils with Asperger syndrome in secondary schools. This should help schools identify the circumstances around bullying of students with Asperger syndrome and a context for prevention and intervention.
More information: Bullying in schools project
Early Intervention : The Tizard Centre Pilot Study
Description: This project compared implementation and outcomes for Son-Rise, ABA and a control group in children and adults with autism. Underlying family and autism characteristics were also examined
Impact: This project provided information about the responses of children and parents to specific interventions and further evidence that no one intervention will be suited to all children or all families.
LECA: Learning environments for children with autism
Description: This project was designed to design and test specific physical environments for the support of learning for children with autism.
It was funded by the Three Guineas Trust and supported by Leiden University, Holland and by Research Autism.
Impact: The design of the LECA environment is undergoing final tests.
SCAmP: Early Intervention-Effects of Behavioural Approaches in Autism
Description: The University of Southampton study was part-funded by Research Autism and was designed as a test of whether EIBI for children with autism is beneficial in routine use in the UK when compared with standard pre-school provision.
Impact: This project reported that EIBI can be an effective and practical intervention for pre-school children with autism in the UK. It also showed that EIBI can lead to a number of significant improvements in children’s capacities without negatively affecting the psychological wellbeing of their parents.
More information. SCAmP: Early Intervention-Effects of Behavioural Approaches in Autism
Sleep Database: Severe Sleep Related Issues in Children with Autism
Description: This project was a result of a Research Autism forum on sleep problems in autism and was designed to explore some of the severe sleep related issues that children with autism experience. Working with the University of Keele and the National Autistic Society an online database of sleep research is now available to clinicians, researchers and parents alike.
Impact: This project provides researchers with a greater understanding of the character and prevalence of sleep problems in individuals with autism. It also highlighted a number of key areas that warrant further research which will further knowledge and understanding whilst advancing the scientific research field.
More information. Sleep Database: Severe Sleep Related Issues in Children with Autism
Test Foods Study: Preparation for a Large Scale Study into a Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet.
Description: The need for high quality research into biomedical interventions was identified as a priority when Research Autism was established. This partial study, funded by Research Autism was part of a broader research study called Can Diet Affect Autism (CANDAA), a large scale study into the effects of a gluten-free, casein-free diet. This specific aspect of the broader study investigated the feasibility of producing test foods which were transportable, easy to prepare, palatable and suitable for daily consumption by young children with autism.
Impact: This project provided important information about how to develop and test a range of double-blind test foods for regular consumption by young children with autism. This is essential preparation for a large scale multi-centre randomised control trial of gluten and casein free diets in the management of autism.
More information. Test Foods Study: Preparation for a Large Scale Study into a Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet.
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Last Updated : 06/01/2012 Back to Top
