Reading Instruction for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Quality Analysis

This study reviews the literature on reading instruction consistent with the recommendations of the National Reading Panel (NRP; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2000) for children with autism spectrum disorder, using the Evaluative Method for Determining Evidence-Based Practices in Autism to assess research quality (Reichow, Volkmar, & Cicchetti, 2008). A search of the literature published between 2009 and 2017 identified 10,779 relevant records, of which 19 met inclusion criteria. Studies reported gains in phonics, reading accuracy, reading fluency, and/or reading comprehension skills; however, few were of adequate or strong quality. Instruction that incorporated multiple Big Five elements from the NRP was associated with gains in reading accuracy and comprehension as well as relatively high quality ratings. Clinical implications and priorities for future research are discussed.