Process or Product: Fidelity of Intervention or Outcomes

The age old argument between process and product rears it’s head again when it comes to autism treatment. Too often we pay too close attention to process (treatment or intervention). Unfortunately research has shown how difficult treatment fidelity is, even in the best of conditions; but, especially when it is not the primary motivating factor of the service provider. This is not to discredit the importance of process and treatment fidelity using the correctly prescribed evidence based intervention for the child; however, outcomes, too often, receive too little attention. The outcomes I’m talking about are not the subjective feel good statements that we must be doing good or that s/he is doing better; but outcomes as demonstrated by objective, standardized, norm referenced assessments with both high validity and reliability.
Too much data “fluff” is presented as solid reason to spend money or do something. We can do better than this. Many children can make remarkable progress if the right intervention is provided by well qualified therapists in partnership with parents and providers. We do a disservice to children and families when we don’t measure and tell the truth about outcomes or in this case, real positive results and changes which benefit the child and family.