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Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) is a trademarked proprietary treatment program for autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), based on the belief that building intelligence competencies is the key to improving the quality of life for individuals with autism. The program's core philosophy is that individuals with autism can participate in authentic emotional relationships if they are exposed to them in a gradual, systematic way. The goal of treatment is to systematically build up the motivation and tools for successfully interacting in social relationships, to correct deficits in this area that are thought to be common to all people with autism. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... “(TM)” redirects here. ... Proprietary indicates that a party, or proprietor, exercises private ownership, control or use over an item of property, usually to the exclusion of other parties. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is three years old. ...

RDI focuses on cultivating the building blocks of social connection -- such as referencing, emotion sharing, coregulation, and experience sharing -- that normally develop in infancy and early childhood. After a child's level of social/emotional/cogntive development is assessed, a program is prepared, and parents are trained to implement the program and support the acquisition of skills. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

History

The RDI program is based upon a model of dynamic intelligence developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein. Gutstein studied the means by which typical children become competent in the world of emotional relationships. The developers of the program describe it as a parent-based clinical treatment for individuals on the autistic spectrum or with other relationship-based disorders. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

How RDI differs from ABA

Proponents of RDI believe that while conventional autism therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) teach discrete skills, the social outcomes that result often lack the emotional components of communication as they rely on scripted and predictable actions. They believe that such training may result in improved discrete skills, such as eye contact, emotion recognition (of static images) and turn taking, but that it does not teach social intelligence. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Biomedical intervention for autism. ... Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a systematic process of studying and modifying observable behavior through a manipulation of the environment. ...

RDI is a developmental style of autism therapy and has a similar approach to other developmental interventions such as Floortime, the Developmental Social-Pragmatic model and Responsive Teaching. Floortime is a developmental intervention for children experiencing developmental delays due to Autism, Aspergers syndrome, or other developmental disorders. ... The Developmental Social-Pragmatic model (DSP) is a developmental intervention that focuses on initiation and spontaneity in communication and following the child’s focus of attention and motivations. ...

Instead of trying to directly alter behavior, RDI focuses on skills that normally develop in infancy and early childhood that lead to social interaction and flexible, dynamic thinking. The RDI program provides a path for people on the autistic spectrum to learn friendship, empathy and a love of sharing their world with others. Equally important, RDI seeks to pave the way for future meaningful employment and an overall "quality of life" for individuals on the spectrum.

As with many autism therapies, more research is required to establish it as a fully qualified evidence based practice. Unlike ABA^[1][2][3] RDI has not been experimentally verified as a proven treatment for autism. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Biomedical intervention for autism. ... An approach to a profession informed by the review of evidence gathered in systematic ways. ...

Research on RDI

Preliminary research of RDI's effectiveness indicates that this approach, which addresses the dynamic intelligence deficit of people with ASD, may be effective. In a recent study, children whose families had participated in RDI and who had relatively high IQ at start of treatment showed dramatic changes in diagnosic category on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), though the study represented a non-experimental study without a control group and whose evaluators were not blinded to time in treatment ^[4], ^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ McConachie, H. & Diggl, T. (2006). Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
2. ^ Sallows, G. O. & Graupner, T. D. (2005). Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110 (2), 417-438.
3. ^ Eikeseth, S., Smith, T., Jahr, E. & Eldevik, E. (2002). Intensive Behavioral Treatment at School for 4- to 7-Year-Old Children with Autism: A 1-Year Comparison Controlled Study. Behavior Modification, 26 (1), 49-68.
4. ^ Gutstein, S. E. (2007). Evaluation of the Relationship Development Intervention Program. Autism, 11, 5, 397-411. [1]

External links

• Connections Center website