Effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model: a Systematic Review

The present review identified 15 studies that have evaluated the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) as an early intervention program for a total of 209 children with autism spectrum disorder. The articles were summarized in terms of participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, study design, quality of the study/research rigor, and outcomes. ESDM intervention characteristics included provision of training to parents or therapists, intensive one-to-one intervention, and group intervention. Most studies reported positive child, parent, and therapist outcomes. The included articles used a range of group and single-case designs, but nearly half of the studies were rated as having weaknesses in terms of quality/rigor. We conclude that the ESDM is a potentially promising intervention, but the limited number of high-quality studies indicates the need for additional research to evaluate its effectiveness.