Comparison the effectiveness of ABA and TEACCH therapy in autistic children

The aim of this study was to consider the effectiveness of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy and Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped children (TEACCH) on the autistic Children. Subjects of this experimental study were 29 autistic children who were selected using random sampling method and were placed in experimental and control groups. The design was Pre and Post test with control group. Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers was used for screening the autistic children from non-autistics. Also, Gilliam Autism Rating Scale was used for assessing symptoms of autistic children. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. The results of this research showed that the means of behavioral problem indicators in both ABA and TEACCH methods were reduced significantly in comparison with control group (P<0/01). Also in comparison of ABA therapy and TEACCH method reducing in the mean scores of communication problems was significant and in favour of ABA therapy (P<0/05). According to the results of study, although both ABA therapy and TEACCH method were effective in reducing symptoms of behavioral problems but cause of being more effective Applied Behavioral Analysis is the selective therapeutic approach for this research.