It’s called Autism Spectrum Disorder because it’s just that --a spectrum-- meaning it can range from very severe to barely noticeable. No two cases of autism are alike therefore it should be no coincidence that no two autism treatments should be alike. It’s often best for children with autism to get an individualized
approach to treatment.
Deciding which type of autism treatment will be best for your child can pose a challenge. Probably the only thing that different practitioners and researchers agree on is that the earlier the child gets treatment the better off he or she will be. Early detection and treatment can prevent symptoms from getting worse, teach missing skills, and sometimes even mainstream the child -- meaning they become virtually undetectable from typical developing children. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
The best place to start is to assess your child’s current basic strengths and weaknesses. A skilled therapist will be able to do this. The reason for this is that treatment most often treats the symptoms, not the diagnosis of autism itself. There is currently no cure for autism and the cause is still unknown. Luckily, treatment options are very promising. Assessing your child’s current strengths and weaknesses will help better direct the treatment in the areas which would be most beneficial to your child.
Next look at the treatment options available and ask yourself which one would best benefit your child. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most commonly used behavioral approach. ABA is a scientifically based, systematic approach to teaching people how to learn. Usually no plan of action is started without a functional behavioral assessment (FBA). This way you as the parent can be assured that your child is truly receiving individualized care. ABA focuses on socially important problems so the child can best function in their environment. This is why treatment is often conducted in the home -- the natural environment.
It’s always important that in any approach that the child likes the treatment or else it will eventually become aversive and possibly ineffective. Good therapy sessions should be rewarding and fun. Progress should be systematically reviewed; and if you are not seeing positive changes within the first 3 months, services should be re-evaluated because when treating young children time is of the essence. Getting effective treatment while the child’s brain is still young and developing can make a world of difference.
Finally, making sure that you are utilizing skilled practitioners who utilize best practice will be essential to child improvement. When choosing ABA it’s important that the case is being supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
To learn more about ABA treatment in the South Florida area visit www.buildingblockresolutions.com.
