Clarifying comments on the young autism study: Reply to Schopler, Short, and Mesibov.

Lovaas (1987) has been criticized for overstating the outcome of an intensive behavioral intervention for young autistic children. Part of the criticism reflects skepticism of Lovaas's view that it is possible to overcome autistic children's deficits. However, Lovaas's study built on a substantial body of research that has suggested just such a possibility. It also contained a number of methodological features that provide evidence supporting his interpretation of the outcome, notably, unbiased control groups and multiple pretreatment and follow-up measures.