LEAP and Autism Ranking:

Future Research

Summary of Existing Research

There is a very small amount of high quality research evidence (two large, multi-site controlled trials) and a small amount of low quality research (six single-case design studies with three or more participants) into the use of LEAP for pre-school autistic children.

This research suggests that LEAP may be an effective way to improve the social communication skills of some pre-school autistic children.

There is insufficient evidence to determine if LEAP provides any benefits in other areas (such as a reduction in repetitive and restricted behaviours, interests and activities) to pre-school autistic children.

Recommendations for Future Research

There is a need for more research into LEAP which uses scientifically robust, experimental methodologies.

That research should investigate whether LEAP is more or less effective than other comprehensive, multi-component, educational interventions (such as TEACCH), and which components of LEAP, if any, are more likely to benefit specific autistic individuals.

That research should be undertaken by researchers who are independent of the interventions being studied. That research should also involve autistic people and their parents and carers in the design, development and evaluation of those studies.

Updated

16 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Sep 2017

Next Review

01 Jan 2024