ABA Therapy for Autism might be the key you need for transforming chaos into calm. If you have a child who is suffering from autism or any other autism spectrum disorder your doctor must have prescribed you ABA therapy which is a new term for you. Like many other people, you must be feeling confused about it and looking for something that guides you.
Don’t worry! To help you out we have prepared a comprehensive article that dives deep into the topic including what is ABA therapy, how it can be beneficial for your child, and what the positives and drawbacks of this therapy are. So let’s start by looking into its meaning.
ABA Therapy for Autism Meaning
You can see “ABA” as a set of rules that form the basis of many other therapies. It is based on general principles that rule our learning and the behavioral part of the brain. By using these laws ABA therapy includes therapies that tend to change and improve useful behavior. The same principle is used to reduce the undesirable behavior that interferes with and hinders daily life activities.
ABA therapy improves
- attention span,
- emotional interference,
- learning skills, and
many others that help to make a positive change in a child’s daily life.
Evidence That Supports The Effectiveness Of ABA Therapy
ABA is considered an evidence-based “best” practice therapy by the US Surgeon General and by the American Psychological Association. “Evidence-based” means that ABA has passed scientific tests of its usefulness, quality, and effectiveness.
“Medicine, psychology, education, and other fields of study are consistently coming to the same conclusion — evidence-based practice is critical for effective therapy and care.”
Dr. Susan M. Wilczynski / Professional Advisory Board Member, National Autism Center
You can read more about its effectiveness on this site:
Evidence for the effectiveness of ABA therapy
Positive reinforcement
How ABA Therapy Works?
ABA therapy uses different methods to bring results to give you a basic idea about it we are discussing only a few of them.
- Antecedent and consequence technique: It is divided into two parts; the first part is antecedent which includes the thing that triggers a specific response or behavior. The second part is consequence which is about the results of behavior. Combining the information from these two parts therapist plans a therapy plan to improve a specific behavior.
- Positive reinforcement: It works when a behavior results in a positive reward. We can use this to reinforce certain and selective behaviors that are helpful for the child.
Examples of ABA therapy-based therapies
A few types/ examples of therapies based on ABA principles are
- discrete trial learning,
- incidental teaching (or natural environment training),
- verbal behavior,
- pivotal response training, and
- natural language paradigm.
All of these ABA-based therapies:
- Are pre-planned according to the patient’s condition
- Focuses on a particular skill or behavior
- Provide effective strategies for changing the response and behavior
The principles and methods of behavior analysis are used in various life circumstances to develop different skill sets and lower the rate of bad behaviors all while focusing on the power of positive reinforcement.
Discovering the Truth: Will ABA Benefit My Child?
Does your child:
- Need help in learning a new subject or any piece of knowledge?
- Having problems while acquiring new skills or adapting to a new environment?
- Having difficulty in communicating with his fellows or lacking in social skills?
- Suffering from disturbing behaviors that may affect normal daily life functioning?
If your child shows any of these symptoms or behaviors you should think of talking to an ABA therapist or your doctor.
An Insight Into ABA Methods Aiding in Autism
Important behavioral changes are listed below that are the result of different ABA methods. Let’s check them out:
- Teach skills to make the right decisions: These methods involve showing your child the right and the wrong actions.
- Increase positive behavior and reduce interfering behavior: For example, positive reinforcement improves the behaviors that end with positive outcomes and avoids the ones with bad/negative outcomes like cuts, self-injury, fast running, shouting, etc.
- Maintain behaviors: For example: Teaching self-control and self-monitoring procedures to maintain and generalize job-related social skills
- Change responses to your child’s behavior: These responses could unintentionally be rewarding problem behavior.
- Generalize or transfer behavior: Transitioning between different between while maintaining the same behavioral patterns.
What Does ABA Look Like?
In general, ABA skill training programs (such as discrete trial training, and incidental teaching) can require several hours each day for a few weeks. Usually, the training program is delivered by a therapist or a teacher but in some cases, parents are trained to do so, and then they transfer the knowledge to their child in the home environment.
ABA therapy programs for a young child usually take place in special places like home or any dedicated environment plus it requires some special tools to make a program fully effective. In ABA behavior modification programs parents need to visit the center for a few hours per week and then be advised to use the learned strategies with their child in daily life activities.
Components Of A Strong ABA Program
Keep in mind that each program has its specific components which depend on various factors. But in general, a good quality therapy plan usually compromises of following components.
- Individualization: The cornerstone of successful ABA therapy is customization. Each person has unique needs and challenges. To make a good plan therapists usually go through the following aspects of the child which include skills, challenges, goals, and preferences.
- Multi-purpose approach: The therapist should plan mixed programs including different kinds of therapies, and make sure that all are completely aligned with the enhancement of the child’s daily life activities.
- Data-driven approach: Progress monitoring is essential. The plan should outline methods for collecting data on the individual’s responses to interventions. This data should be reviewed by the supervisor and used to measure the progress of the individual and provide information for program planning.
- Certifications or approval: The therapy plan must be organized by a BCBA-certified professional who has vast working experience or in case of the absence of a certified professional from someone with similar credentials.
- Family Support: It should also have a specific training session for family and other close people. Proper involvement of the family is necessary for an effective program.
- Consistency Across Settings: For optimal results, the plan should outline how interventions will be implemented consistently across various environments (home, school, etc.). This ensures continued learning and generalization of skills.
Who Provides ABA Services?
ABA providers may vary in training, experience, and certification. Here are a couple of important pointers about ABA service providers:
- Certified ABA Therapists: Therapists may be certified through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. If they are board-certified and have at least a Master’s degree, then they will have the letters BCBA after their name. BCBA-D means they have a doctoral degree. Other therapists may have BCABA credentials. This means education in ABA at a Bachelor’s level.
- Experienced ABA Therapist: Sometimes you find a therapist without any formal certification who has years of working experience under the supervision of a certified therapist. They are skilled persons but it’s always good to prefer a certified therapist or someone who will work under the supervision certified therapist.
When you find your therapist don’t forget to ask them about their credentials, previous experience, or related information.
ABA Therapy Pros And Cons
Like any other thing, ABA therapy also has some advantages and some disadvantages. We believe that you should know about both of them, so we have listed out few of them with references(in case you are interested in learning more about them.
Pros:
- Evidence-Based Approach: In various research, this approach proved to be effective in treating the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. The National Institutes of Health website has an article about it.
- Focus on Skill Building: ABA therapy focuses on improving skills that are involved in or are related to daily life activities which include communication, social interaction, self-care, and academic performance. The American Psychological Association (APA) has also talked about it.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: ABA therapy relies on data collection to monitor progress and adjust interventions as needed. This ensures a personalized and effective approach.
Cons:
- Intensity and Duration: Traditional ABA therapy often requires many hours of intensive intervention per week. This can be challenging for families in terms of time and financial commitment.
- Ethical Concerns: Some believe that ABA therapy is not completely safe and may prove to be harmful because it doesn’t take into account the individual’s motivations or emotional well-being
Where Is ABA Therapy Provided?
ABA therapy can occur in hospitals, classrooms, daycare centers, autism centers, houses, etc. The idea is to provide the patient with the most comfortable and nondisturbing environment where he can easily focus on his therapy. In addition, community-based therapists may provide ABA in the home to children diagnosed with autism. Most large to medium-sized cities will have certified ABA therapists. Smaller towns and rural areas may not.
How Do I Obtain ABA Services?
Listed below are a couple of helpful tips for obtaining ABA services.
- Talk with your child’s education team about local providers.
- Talk with families living with autism at local support groups.
- You can also find one near your home just by contacting our team. We offer both in-home and in-center ABA therapy including a wide range of therapies provided by BCCA certified practitioners.
Conclusion:
ABA therapy has proved to be an effective program for autistic children. It works on the general law of human learning and behavioral response. If you have an autistic child you should seek help from a certified ABA therapist. To find a therapist you can ask your doctor or talk with families in the autistic child community. Always remember to ask them for their certifications and credentials and make sure your therapy plan has all the required components of a good plan.
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