Award-winning Canterbury University psychology professor Neville Blampied believes Applied Behaviour Analysis is international best practise in treating autism.

The Government has a "moral obligation" to fund an internationally-recognised treatment for autistic children, a leading psychologist says.

Award-winning Canterbury University psychology professor Neville Blampied said research showed that Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) made a noticeable difference to children with autism.

"I think it's absolutely international best practice in treating autism."

Developed by Norwegian doctor Ivar Lovaas in the 1980s, ABA is an intensive, early-intervention therapy that breaks down every day tasks in to small manageable actions taught using positive reinforcement treats.

It is thought to improve communication, social relationships, play, self care, school and employment outcomes. The therapy can cost up to $25,000 a year.

In 2008, the ministries of health and education commissioned Blampied and a group of experts to do a technical review of ABA for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder.

After analysing about 500 studies, "it [the review] came out very strongly in favour", Blampied said.

Research in the 1980s showed 40 per cent of children went on to main stream education after ABA, 40 per cent improved but still needed some special education, and about 20 per cent showed no notable change.

"The outcomes, when they work, are exceptionally good."

Despite the positive review, the national guidelines were not changed to include an emphasis on the treatment's success.

"I think that was extraordinary after we just told them it was highly effective."

He believed politics was the problem, and it was too expensive for the state.

If a child had spina bifida or a heart defect, the state paid for treatment.

Brain disorders like autism attracted "extremely low-level support", he said.

"It is grossly unfair to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder."

Ministry of Health disability support services manager Toni Atkinson said services were funded, rather than specific therapeutic interventions.

Guidelines concluded that no one model of intervention met the needs of all autistic children, and models should be chosen to fit the characteristics of each child.

"This could include the principles and techniques of ABA if this was suitable for a specific client.

Ministry of Education spokeswoman Katrina Casey agreed It did not directly fund ABA, but it believed a variety of techniques was most appropriate.

Blampied said there was little point to  using parts of the ABA concept.

"The evidence is that it has to be intensive, that's the issue."

"If you accept that autism is a brain disorder, and it is, and if you treated other disorders with the public purse you have to do the same."

Most professionals were not well informed about behavioural approaches and "often have deep and invalid opposition to them", he said.

"It would save money in the long run. It's not just a matter of finance, it's a matter of moral obligation."

Autism Associates ABA therapist and case manager Lisa Luxton said New Zealand was 30 years behind other countries with regard to autism treatment.

"ABA has come so far around the world. The studies have been done, the proof is out there. But our government is saying they want more data.

"It's negligence on the government's part."

 - Stuff

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