A key piece of self-management puzzle is trying to identify emotional states and how they impact relationships

Emotional regulation for an Autistic child or adult is an important skill to have; being able to read body language and know when your behavior is appropriate can help you keep relationships and jobs.

If your Autistic child can’t recognize emotions in others or explain their own emotions, it can lead to a lot of undesirable behavior. They could get aggressive, they could bully, they could say inappropriate things, lose jobs, break relationships and much of it could be down to a misunderstanding.  Because an Autistic child doesn’t look at people’s faces often, or make eye contact, they miss a lot of the social interaction cues that babies learn early. Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) aims to put this development back on track. There are a few ways this can be done. One is with a picture system where each emotion is shown and the child points it out. Another is by displaying the emotion on your face, exaggerating it, and teaching the child to recognize it. But ultimately, the therapist will be aiming to make social interaction rewarding for your child. The more social interaction they are exposed to, the more they will learn through opening up discussion, and encouragement. Another way that therapist teach older children who have begun school, is with social stories. These are basic, short stories that explain a social scenario. They run through emotions, situations and appropriate way to respond to scenarios in a form that a small child could understand. 

Once a child understands emotions in themselves and others, it will be easier for them to read situations and react appropriately. Keeping their relationships healthy and giving them a much needed skill that they can utilize for the rest of their life.

Why the ABC's of ABA are important

Applied behavioral analyses therapy  (ABA) applies a tool that behavioral analyses use called ABC – Antecedent, behavior, consequence. This is a technique used in many behavioral therapies and is the foundation of why we do what we do, as human beings.

Every single parent has a behavior that we would like to change in our child, even if they aren’t Autistic. We wish they would put their socks away, not tantrum, go to bed on time or do their homework without being asked. As parents we negotiate, punish and set boundaries to help our child achieve the behaviors they need once they enter the world without us. ABC breaks down these behaviors into three parts to help us analyze and get the results we’re looking for.

If you’ve ever wondered why you’ve told your child 100 times not to do something? And think you’re setting the right punishment or reward for the behavior but are getting nowhere? Perhaps you aren’t looking at the antecedent.

What is an Antecedent?

An antecedent is a stimulus that occurs before the negative behavior. Such as: an action, circumstance or persons presence. It cues or sets off a certain reaction. It moulds our behavior— which is why ABA therapists will look at this first. If you can change the antecedent, you can change the negative behavior your child is displaying.

Here is an example of why looking at an antecedent can help…

A child is asked to sit in circle time during class. Instead, the child sits in the corner and waits for the teacher to drag the child back to the circle. The child continues this behavior until the teacher makes him sit at her feet as punishment.

In this scenario the child appears to not be interested in circle time and so is reprimanded and forced to so he doesn’t escape the situation. But look closer and you can see the real reason the child is running from the circle. To sit next to the teacher! If the teacher changed the antecedent (where the child is asked to sit in circle time) and instead asks the child to sit next to her, she could avoid this situation all together.

Behaviors occur in situations where they are reinforced; this is important to remember because rewarding a child works better than punishing them. So if you redirect the child to something else (in this case sitting next to the teacher), and interfere with the trigger or antecedent, over time the child’s behavior will be reduced.

Antecedents help us to remember to look at the root of the issue so we can turn the situation into a positive that helps our child function better in the world. And that’s why an ABA therapist will look closely at your child’s ABC’s.   

                                       

If Your Child Has Aggression Along with Autism, Then Here Are Some Reasons to Why.

Aggression in Autistic children is common, but it can be an embarrassing thing to deal with – even for the child. Aggression interferes with so much; from school, to play dates and sadly sibling relationships.

There are many reasons a child with Autism might act out by pinching, biting, shoving or hitting.

1.     They may feel stressed; if their routine is off, or they are in a place that triggers sensory issues

2.     Aggression could be the only way they have to communicate right now

3.     They could be trying to get out of a situation with an adult or child, or avoiding something they don’t want to do

4.     They could even be looking for you to react

None of these things mean that your child is ‘bad’. But Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) helps to put a stop to these behaviors once a for all. ABA looks at why the child is reacting in this way. Getting to the root of the issue gives us the tools to fix it. Once the therapist gets to the root of the issue, they can transform the violence into positive acts.

Your ABA therapist might do this using redirection. Such as showing the child a positive alternative. If your child is shoving a child away, they will teach the child to verbalize their feelings instead. If a child is told they can’t touch something, they will be given something they can touch instead. Using negative reactions, such as scolding, and scowling, only teaches the child they can distract you from the situation, avoid situations with ease or get attention with this negative behavior. It doesn’t teach them what they should do instead.

The goal of ABA is to teach your child positive behaviors, through positive rewards. So ultimately your child can grow to be confident, happy and ready to face the world without the use of aggression.

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Verbal Behavioral Therapy Works and Just Because A Child Is Nonverbal Doesn’t Mean There Is No Hope.

Verbal Behavior (VB) therapy is a branch of Applied Behavioral Analyses therapy (ABA); it helps non-verbal children to become vocal and use words with meaning. Having a child who is non-verbal is scary, for both the child and the parents involved, but there is hope even if your child is severely delayed. Recently a study showed that children, who cannot speak by the age of four, can learn how to speak – something that was deemed unlikely. The study can be found here.

B.F. Skinner was a famous psychologist who wrote a book on verbal behavior and developed many of the theories that ABA is based on. B.F. Skinner said that language comes in types:

Mand – To ask for something, such as juice

Tact – A label of an object, such as circle, when something is round

Intraverbal – A way to answer a question, such as where do you live?

Echoic – When your child repeats what is said

Because of these different types of speech, your therapist looks at what is the most basic and works their way up. In this case, a Mand would be most basic, which is why a child will learn to ask for juice by saying ‘juice’, and not ‘I’m thirsty’ when they begin.

VB therapists today also work on play skills, self-help skills, social skills and complying with instructions. They do this using discrete trial training, natural environment teaching and manding to name a few.

Just like ABA, VB doesn’t let the child feel they got the answer wrong. Autistic children receive little positive feedback as they don’t engage in the world in the same way other children do. To achieve a positive learning environment, the child is re-directed and lavished in praise to solidify the positive re-enforcement process – that will ultimately help your child learn in the real world.

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Find Out How Natural Environment Training Works And Be Applied Every Day

Natural Environment Training (NET) is part of Applied Behavioral Analyses therapy (ABA). NET works with the natural environment around the child and moves learning from a desk to the real world; something that ABA promotes. This is fantastic for generalization and promoting skills that have already been taught. NET also works with natural motivators; these are toys and objects around the home (or therapy office) that the child would like to play with or use. This technique isn’t about the traditional sit-down and learn, it focuses on the child’s ability to learn whilst they play.

NET is a great thing to implement in the home because it uses your environment to teach your child the skills they learned in therapy. For example, if your child is working on how to say goodbye and hello, you can help them wave to people who come to visit, or when you take them to daycare, or anywhere else you can think of. To do this, you model the desired behavior for the child and make a big, fun, parade out of saying hello or goodbye everywhere you go.

ABA is all about collecting data and using structure, and reward, to help a child learn certain skills. But when you switch to using NET techniques the therapy becomes louder, with plenty of speech and exciting play. NET can get spontaneous and uses your child’s desires to help teach them. The therapist may set up a color matching game for the child to play, as they could be learning colors, but then have to switch to manding as the child asks for different objects.

If you’re wondering as a parent what this would look like, the therapist should be talking a lot about everything they are doing. They should model behaviors (showing the child how to correctly do things), they should ask questions, and use the world around the child to engage in what they want to engage in. This shouldn’t be a forced, stiff point in the therapy. It should look much like when you talk to a very young child about the world around them, commenting on everything you are doing.

NET is a thrilling part of ABA for an Autistic child. Children on the spectrum can’t often play appropriately, and so don’t learn through play as well as other children would. This is precisely what NET helps to promote, play, joy, and learning, all rolled into one.

10 Facts You Must Know About Applied Behavioral Analyses

Applied Behavioral Analyses therapy (ABA) is a fantastic therapy for Autistic children, to help them keep up with peers, learn life skills and develop into happier adults.

Here are ten remarkable facts you might not know about ABA.

1.     ABA continues to be researched and practiced, for more than 35 years. The original name of the therapy was Behavioral Modification, which goes back even further to the early 1900’s.

2.     ABA therapy is supported by the Association for Science in Autism Research, the Surgeon General and the National Institute of Health.

3.     This therapy can be performed at any age, but works best on younger children.

4.     It works anywhere, from school to home and work life. Fostering generalization across all areas of life ensures your Autistic child can live life to the fullest anywhere.

5.     90% of Autistic individuals who underwent ABA, at 40 hours a week, substantially improved. (Lovaas, 1987, study of intensive behavioral treatment)

6.     45% of therapies develop long-lasting and observable results – according to the Surgeon General Autism treatment report. ABA is one of these.

7.     ABA is not all table work; a child learns in the real world too!

8.     Corporate punishment is not a part of this therapy.

9.     ABA is used to quit smoking, help personality disorders, air those with OCD and counsel relationships. It is also used in the workplace, and with athletes.

10.  No two ABA programs are the same. By its, nature ABA is tailored towards the child so that every ABA therapy will look different.

11.  Since ABA is personalized, it is also a data driven therapy. Lots of information and facts are written down and recorded about your child to help them progress.

12.  Bribes are not used during ABA, re-enforcements are. This means a child is not told they will get something if they do something; the positive behavior is praised after the child has performed the needed action or behavior.

Is Your Child Sync with ABA Therapy and School? If Not Here Are Some Tools You Can Use to Get ABA Therapy and School Aligned.

Applied Behavioral Analyses therapy (ABA) helps to change behaviors that hinder your child’s development – when they have a diagnosis of Autism and other similar issues. But this therapy alone will not push your child to the heights of their learning abilities. It’s important that all areas of the child’s life are in sync – which is why it’s great to have an ABA therapist willing to be in contact and work with schools.

All Therapists Should be in Sync with ABA

Some schools provide OT, speech and other services that help improve your child’s quality of life, but they have the luxury of syncing these lessons together. If your ABA therapist is on the outside of this team, they can’t work as a whole. This is why, as a parent and ABA therapist, it’s important to be on top of the lessons the child is learning in all areas of their lives.

But what if your child is struggling in school and not progressing with peers? Or the school is not providing any therapy at all?

Some Autistic Children Do Not Cope in School

A child who absolutely cannot function in a social, verbal learning environment due to sensory issues will often exhibit strong sensory pre-occupation; they may seem inattentive, or exhibit bad or repetitive behavior. This is typical for a lower functioning Autistic child. It can be so distracting for your child and sometimes even painful, it’s almost impossible for them to learn in a school environment.

If this sounds like your child, ABA and homeschooling/shorter days should be thought about. Postponing regular schooling to correct sensory/learning problems doesn’t make you a bad parent. If a child cannot concentrate in a group setting, they won’t be gaining anything out of it anyway.

However, some schools simply aren’t trying hard enough. Hiring your ABA therapist to go in and investigate the school environment should be step one. They can identify the issues in the classroom and report back what isn’t working for your child and work with your child’s teacher who likely hasn’t been trained correctly. Using this method you can fight for better resources – and sometimes, unfortunately, it will be a fight.

Is ABA More Important than School?

ABA can help a child learn to learn, help a child overcome sensory issues and engage in the world outside of themselves. If your child can’t participate in a school setting, perhaps thinking about intense ABA therapy before school would be the best way to go. As a parent it’s best not to feel guilty about this; a child learning how to live in the world is more important than the skill of counting which can be taught at any age. With that said…

A child is not required to enter school until they are 6 years of age on or before September 1^st of the year they will enter school. But if pushing back school entirely makes you uncomfortable, you can also consider shorter school days in order to add extra ABA therapy or even home school entirely.

ABA therapy should be a compliment to your child’s schooling and should always come first if a child is struggling greatly. As a parent, it’s important to communicate with schools and our children’s therapist to know what course of action needs to be taken.

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The Benefits of Getting Your Autistic Child ABA Services Before the Age of Three.

If you’re a parent of a child who has recently received a diagnosis of Autism under the age of 2, you will consider what therapies can help them. After all, they may not be verbal right now, they may have little comprehension of the world around them – you may wonder how on earth anyone could teach them socialization and if therapy is even worth it. I know I had many of those thoughts myself; especially since many parents spend countless hours trying to teach my Autistic sons skills with little progress.

One of the first therapies you will likely hear about is Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA). That sounds like a formidable name by itself, but ABA is simple teaching your Autistic child skills they can use in the world, be it social, verbal, play or correct behaviors.  You may also visualize this as your one-year-old sitting attentively at a desk and ask yourself “how will that work?”

Actually, you’d be surprised what little things a one-year-old with Autism needs to learn that will heavily impact them later on – and a lot of it doesn’t involve desks at all. Like the ability to point, the ability to engage for short amounts of time, and most importantly, the ability to play. Teaching a child these simple age appropriate skills will help them build up to more intense things later on. If a child can point to something, they can communicate better and reduce frustration as they grow. If a child can engage for a short amount of time, then your relationship will grow and you will bond. If a child is taught to play with toys appropriately, then they can learn from these toys (as children learn through play).

According to a study performed by researchers at the New England Center for Children 90% of children under the age of 2 made significant social and communication skill gains within a year, when enrolled in an early intervention program. 90% is a big deal, and this drops to 30% if a child begins after the age of 2 and a half. So ABA is almost guaranteed to help your child, and should definitely be a therapy you look into.

ABA is always aimed at a child as an individual; it isn’t a step-by-step program that can be followed out of a book. This is a complex therapy that takes therapists years of study to master, so you can rest assured your little one won’t be put under any learning regiment they are not ready for.

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Find Out How Rote Learning Allows Children to Comprehend Without Boring or Upsetting Them

Often Analytical Behavioral Therapy (ABA) uses tools every child needs to learn and intensifies them for the Autistic child. This can look strange when you watch a session, but when you understand the underlying reasons it makes total sense. There are many different ways this can be seen, but one way is with Rote learning.

Many children learn through the process of Rote learning; Rote learning is the act of memorizing. Sometimes with Analytical Behavioral Therapy (ABA) things are repeated to our child many times, over and over again in the first stage of learning to facilitate Rote learning. It may seem alien to watch a therapist repetitively teach something to your child, but we as parents do this too. We repeat numbers, songs, objects and request many times a day.

One example of this is to repeat numbers often. Once a child learns the basics of counting, they can apply that in an abstract way perhaps to objects; how many marbles are in a bag? For example, the same process is intensified in ABA therapy so your child can quickly learn concepts on a basic and then advanced level.

The reason an ABA model does this is because conceptual learning is often confusing for an Autistic child. Once they learn one rule, they will think it’s a ‘hard and fast’ rule and have a hard time applying extra rules to it; at least until that rule is solid in their mind. For example, a tree can be big or small. But what if you taught your child the trees were big, and they didn’t have time to memorize this concretely before you told them some trees are short?  Autistic minds, being very literal, may think that now all trees are short. This is why it is important for a concept to be burned into their minds before they are able to understand new concepts.

However, this doesn’t mean your therapist should be repeating concepts such as this is blue, until your child is bored or even upset. This won’t give your child a positive experience or allow them to learn anything at all. Often you will see things repeated depending on the child, this could be four times or eight times or more. ABA is always a very individualized therapy that should be just challenging enough to teach your child but not too challenging or boring to upset them.

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Why New Skills Using ABA Are Taught in Different Scenarios

When a child has Autism they often have difficulty generalizing behaviors. This means they can act a certain way in a certain situation, but not in others. This could mean that if a routine is not followed the child cannot demonstrate a specific skill, which is not helpful in real-life situations that are often random.

Most children with Autism cannot learn a skill and automatically generalize; this is normal and should not concern you right away. That is why new skills in Applied Behavioral Analyses therapy are taught in many situations, with varied tones of voice, and multiple materials, as well as multiple correct responses. This is called adding ‘discrimination’ components and why ABA therapy is so great for Autistic children.

The wrong way to teach with ABA is to give a child a specific thing they must say whenever something is asked. For example, when somebody asks ‘did you have fun’, the child always responds with, ‘yes thank you’. This is not generalizing and causes issues. What if the child didn’t have fun, and the adult doesn’t know they were taught a specific way to respond? This is why it is so important as a parent and therapy team to carry out skills across different platforms. If your child is taught to say goodbye to their therapist, then this should be encouraged in other scenarios, like when a family member leaves for work.

When a new skill will be taught to your child, ask about generalization. As a Therapist any goal that is taught to the child will first be thought about in ‘the bigger picture’. For example, if a child needs to sit still during lessons, where else will this need to be applied? How can we transition it to other scenarios? This should always be looked at first before the lesson begins, so the therapist knows how to expand on the lesson to give your child the best success. And this is something you can help your therapist with, to ultimately help your child.

ABA is not meant to teach robotic responses to situations, it is not meant to teach your child how to act appropriately only within limited situations. It is meant to help a child blend in with their peers, achieve the goals their classmates will and have a happier healthier life as an adult.

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for All Ages

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is a great therapy for young Autistic children, and what most people associate the therapy with. But if you have an older child or teenager, they too can benefit from ABA. ABA isn’t only an early intervention therapy, it teaches children how to learn and change behaviors and can be started at any age.

In fact, ABA isn’t just for Autistic children; it is simply famous for helping Autistic children. But ABA is also used in business, sports and education to name a few. For example, ABA can be applied using antecedents and consequences to help somebody achieve more in their area of sports, be it track, baseball or anything you could think of.

ABA also doesn’t only help with negative behaviors in children and teenagers; if you want your teenager or older child to have more freedom it can provide it. For example, if your child is unable to turn the channel to their favorite television show, it can teach them how to do this. For the higher functioning children, it can help with their organization skills. Using visual charts is a part of ABA and implementing these to set schedules so your child can remember to complete homework on time is just one example of many. It can improve the quality of life so you can have a happier child.

ABA helps older children to function in a more positive way, to learn at a rate that their peers are learning, to be happier in life and achieve the needs that they crave. It is excellent for children and teenagers of all ages, even adults and it is never too late to start your child in an ABA program.

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Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for All Ages

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is a great therapy for young Autistic children, and what most people associate the therapy with. But if you have an older child or teenager, they too can benefit from ABA. ABA isn’t only an early intervention therapy, it teaches children how to learn and change behaviors and can be started at any age.

In fact, ABA isn’t just for Autistic children; it is simply famous for helping Autistic children. But ABA is also used in business, sports and education to name a few. For example, ABA can be applied using antecedents and consequences to help somebody achieve more in their area of sports, be it track, baseball or anything you could think of.

ABA also doesn’t only help with negative behaviors in children and teenagers; if you want your teenager or older child to have more freedom it can provide it. For example, if your child is unable to turn the channel to their favorite television show, it can teach them how to do this. For the higher functioning children, it can help with their organization skills. Using visual charts is a part of ABA and implementing these to set schedules so your child can remember to complete homework on time is just one example of many. It can improve the quality of life so you can have a happier child.

ABA helps older children to function in a more positive way, to learn at a rate that their peers are learning, to be happier in life and achieve the needs that they crave. It is excellent for children and teenagers of all ages, even adults and it is never too late to start your child in an ABA program.

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Analytical Behavioral Therapy Applied by Parents Over Therapist

Analytical behavioral therapy (ABA) is a great therapy for Autistic children and studies have shown that parents who do this at home get better results. There are several online courses to help us learn how to do this, but we can also ask our therapist what they would recommend we do at home. Having said this, there will be times where we as parents won’t get the same fast results that a therapist would. For example, one of my children couldn’t use sign language no matter how many hours of effort I put in. Along came a therapist, and he signed within the week. It’s upsetting when a therapist can teach our child better than we can, but there are reasons for it…

You Are Not a Failure

It’s important to not be discouraged that it’s taking longer to implement new behaviors without our therapist's input. This isn’t because we are bad parents, or we are doing anything wrong. We as parents need to remember that our child see’s us as the caregiver. We are the love and comfort source that our children seek out. When we start withdrawing wants to teach, it can become a power struggle. Our therapist has the advantage of setting up this kind of relationship from the start, our kids know they mean business and they cannot be manipulated.  A child may dig their heels in or simply become confused when we suddenly change the way we relate to them. Because of this, it is always best to have a therapist conduct ABA therapy alongside you.

Your Child May Get Stubborn

Power struggles with any child are frustrating, but it’s game on when an Autistic child fixates better than you. One of my two-year-old Autistic children is a classic example of this. He insists on touching outlets, climbing on objects, and generally touching anything that would get a quick fear reaction. Reacting with fear gives the child power over you, but as a parent, it’s natural to be afraid your child will get hurt. This is something a therapist would be able to control far more than you, rendering ABA difficult for you as a parent but not impossible.

You Can’t Change the World

On top of this, a therapist is able to change the environment and reduce stimuli the way we as parents can’t. This is a great tool for Autistic children but is unrealistic outside of a therapist’s office. We can’t change the world to suit their needs, unfortunately, and so we are more likely to run into triggers before the child is ready to handle them.

ABA must become a lifestyle in your home for the best success. But you are not a failure if you cannot implement the same changes as your therapist. There are restrictions that we as parents have, preventing us from gaining that same success a therapist would. But with time and patience, your child will overcome whatever stands in their way.

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How Do You Know If Your Autistic Child No Longer Needs ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analyses (ABA) is a wonderful therapy for your Autistic child; it works on their negative behaviors, social skills, speech, educational skills and more.

But how do you know if your Autistic child no longer needs ABA therapy? What stage of functioning is ‘good enough’?

How Do You Think Your Child is Doing?

The first step to determine this is the observation from you and the therapist. Interaction with peers, and how other children are behaving and performing around them, will work well as a sounding board. If they appear to work well in classrooms and other environments, it may be time for some evaluations.

Some Issues May Be Hiding

If all tests come back in the same range as peers their age, then your child can probably end ABA. Before making this decision, be sure to check problem-solving, pragmatic language (body language/how we say things), and executive functioning (time management). Which are subtle skills that often stay with Autistic children, but go unnoticed.

Is Your Child Happy?

Take into account how happy your child is. If your child is still struggling, it’s important to get to the root of the issue. They may appear to be functioning with language and IQ, but perhaps there is an emotional issue under the surface.

Continuing Therapy at Home

If you – as the parent – have enough skills in ABA and the child functions well with few areas to work on, ending the therapy is a good next step.  You can continue the therapy from home. But if you don’t have the time to put into therapy (on top of all the other things we do as Autistic parents) keeping a behavior analyses around is a good thing too. New behaviors may emerge and a child can always learn more.

Don’t Suddenly Stop

If you do decide to end ABA, be sure to fade it out slowly so you can catch any issues that may arise. Ending therapy and leaving a therapist is an emotional time, especially for a child who may love their teacher. It’s important to give your child plenty of time to adjust.

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Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) Helps a Child to Catch Up!

Children with Autism often lose years of learning, other times an Autistic child stays on the same level of learning, so it seems as if they will never gain new skills. This can cause parents a lot of anxieties about what exactly is going to happen when school comes. We may wonder things such as, ‘if our child is struggling to even speak, how will they have basic knowledge in shapes, numbers and letters?’

Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) helps a child to catch up.

It may seem without ABA they struggled to progress at all, but with it, their learning will take off like a rocket. ABA teaches rapid-learning (learning through observation and step-by-steps or DTT), so your Autistic child not only gains more skills and knowledge but catches up to other children their age. And ultimately they learn how to learn efficiently.

In the first year, it may seem this will never happen. Your child has to learn the basics in ABA and they may not generalize much (meaning what they do in class they may not do at home).  This is because it takes time for your Autistic child to learn the skills of basic learning. But once they have this mastered, their progress will seem to come out of nowhere.  (Of course, it hasn’t, your child’s therapist has helped implement it!)

Your child will have the opportunity to catch up to their peers through ABA, the research and science have proved this. And because of this, your little two, three or four years old who seems so behind may well be the top of his/her class one day.

Can Applied Behavioral Therapy Help a Child Who is Non-verbal?

Many children on the Autism spectrum have trouble with speech. This could be because of Apraxia which is a motor disorder that makes it hard for children to use their mouths to form words, or maybe they simply can’t communicate as well as the rest of us. This doesn’t mean they can’t communicate in other ways such as picture cards, behavior (good and bad), sign language and electronic devices.

But can Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) help a child who is non-verbal?

The short answer is yes.

ABA is essentially performing an antecedent (an action, a request), the child performs a behavior, and then there is a consequence for the behavior. Either they get it right and there're positive displays of fun and cheering, or the child is shown again. If they still get it wrong a hand is placed on theirs to guide them to the answer so they are correct (queue cheers and happy words).

Think of all the ways a non-verbal child could respond to this without words. They could hand over an object, use picture cards or electronics to communicate speech, point, or even sign their response. Not being able to speak would not hinder your child to learn. 

In fact, VB is a branch of ABA that teaches children how to communicate. So ABA techniques can help teach your child to speak too. It uses much of the same principles including errorless learning. This means your child is never wrong and receive prompts as much as needed – which like ABA are faded out as the child learns.

As parents, we use ABA tools all the time. We ask a child to get up to the table to eat, the child does, we praise the child. This is partly ABA! Being able to speak or not speak would never hinder your child to learn positive behaviors and in turn learn that the world will reward them for all the good that they do.

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Using Data to Determine the Best Course of Action

When it comes to your Autistic child and applied behavioral analyses (ABA), it’s important that all sorts of factors are measured. This means your therapist will be using charts, data and numbers to determine the best course of action. But why would they do this?

One reason is a prediction. When a child needs to reduce problematic behavior it’s measured rather clinically so the therapist can work towards a realistic goal. Some measurements to achieve this are; when a behavior happens, where, with whom, and how often.

Measurements can also be a great help for the parent as we see changes we wouldn’t otherwise have noticed. For instance, a child does something once not three times, or for two minutes less. Predictions predict where a child will be in a few months time. Measurement lets us see how far they have come.

Another great thing about observing and measuring behavior is we start to see patterns emerging. Patterns tell us why the child is behaving the way they are so we can form a hypothesis. This is therapy jargon that means ‘we can understand the reason behind an action’. Once we know why we can replace the behavior with something more appropriate, or reduce the stimuli causing the issue.

Behavior isn’t random, it’s used to receive a need, or avoid/escape something painful. With Autism the painful thing a child could be avoiding can be surprising as many things stimulate them in ways stimuli usually wouldn’t. For example, a child could be tantrumming every time they start to walk into a store because of the bright lights. Measurements and keen observation catch these things quickly so your child can work towards a realistic goal.  

Measuring, graphs, numbers and data are just another tool in the therapist’s box to steer, guide and teach your child how to navigate the world.

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Will A Child Only Respond To The Way It's Taught?

There is a question that is often asked about Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) and it is ‘will my child become a robot?’ When a parent see’s a child taught the same thing over and over it’s a natural conclusion.

“My child only responds this way because he is told to.”

Truly, we are all taught how to react to certain situations by our experiences – in fact, it is a perfectly human thing to do. We say please and thank you because our parents kindly taught us manners and reminded us again and again to use them. We are scared of clowns because we learned they were menacing through experience.

ABA isn’t an alien form of learning where the techniques are only used with Autistic children; it is a therapy that fundamentally teaches a child how to learn. But others use these techniques too, an addict can use ABA techniques, the same is done to encourage workers, or reduce disordered behavior. In fact, behavioral therapies, in general, are one of the largest, most used therapies out there.  Not just for Autism, but disorders and everyday problems all across the board. Psychologists learn behaviorism (the study of human behavior) almost as soon as they learn about the human mind. And ABA is just a form of behavioral therapy, teaching a child what behaviors affect the world around them and what one’s will create positives or negatives in their lives.

Much has changed since the 1960s version of ABA which most base their opinions on. Much has changed in psychology since the 1960’s in general, one only has to look at the state of mental institutions back then, to see huge changes. Not only this but Autism is diagnosed differently, and we know more about the disorder. ABA evolved too; it now promotes flexibility and models several ways to respond to environments.

But if you still fear your child will turn into a robot, you can talk to your therapist about ‘programming for generalization’ something that all ABA therapists will know about. This means, once a child can remember how to react in situations safely and effectively, they can begin to add on their own quirks and abilities – something that ABA ultimately aims for, anyway. You can see this in ‘neurologically normal’ children too (robotic responses that morph into their own personalities). When first learning to speak, we are taught to say milk to a bottle, or hungry when we want something to eat. But at some point, those words take on a flow of their own and our child speaks, adding their own mannerisms and thoughts.

ABA, when done right, is not a therapy that creates a robot, it is a therapy that teaches a child how to learn, how to function in this world, and how to stay safe and happy, whilst still satisfying their needs.   

ABA Therapy at Home V.S. The Therapist's Office

 

  Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a therapy that teaches your Autistic child how to learn with positive re-enforcement. They are taught in a thrilling, gentle way, which opens up new paths for them. But should your child be doing their ABA therapy at home? Or in the therapist’s office?

ABA in the Therapists Office

When ABA is performed in this structured way it simulates similar learning environments your child will encounter over the years in schools, colleges and universities. Performing ABA therapy with your child in such an environment may help them focus when at school, due to a familiar feeling of structure. ABA teaches child skills and behaviors that are needed for environments like schools, such as concentration.

By performing ABA therapy in an office, or out of the home, your child doesn’t have their usual clutch items to cling to, such as toys and family. This is something that will happen as they get older and enter ordered environments. Being away from familiar items can cause anxiety and distress for a child, something that a therapist can address and help your child overcome.

Also, Autistic children often have issues with distractions; some of these are sensory problems such as loud noises. In a home it’s hard to avoid the sounds of traffic, phones ringing, and people talking, but a therapist can design their space to suit your child’s needs to get the best out of ABA.

ABA at Home

Of course, home based therapy can be wonderful for a child who struggles with new places and new people. Sometimes a child has specific behaviors that need addressing within the home, such as meal times, or escaping out of the front door! This can’t be addressed easily in an office as it’s hard to simulate. It’s also convenient for the parent to keep up with high hours of therapy if it’s done within the home.

Another thing to consider is that it can depend on how old your child is. A child who doesn’t need to be in nursery or a school setting yet (1 – 3 years) may benefit more from having therapy in an environment they know. ABA also doesn’t need any fancy equipment that you don’t already have around your home and working with loved toys will be enjoyable for your child.

Balancing working in a structured environment and a therapist’s office is the best way to achieve a perfect balance with ABA therapy. But otherwise, the approach will depend on your child. ABA therapy is a wonderful experience for most Autistic children and it’s important they are as comfortable as possible where ever it’s performed.

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Qualifications for a Good Therapist

Choosing the right therapist for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is important. Finding one that not only works well with your child but can talk you through what you can do is an important part of the process. But what sort of qualifications and personality traits makes for a good therapist for your child?

Desired Qualifications for your ABA Therapist

Your therapist should have at least a bachelor’s degree in childcare, psychology, child development, behavioral analysis or related field. (They will need a doctorate to run a private practice.) It is also required they have a state license. This will ensure they are a trusted therapist who is covered to treat your child in the way they should be treated.

Most states require your therapist to have a doctoral degree, complete internship experience, gather one or two years of practical experience and sit the state licensing exam to perform ABA therapy. But some have supervisors to allow them to practice too.

Do some Research; Shop Around for the Right ABA Therapist

Some other ways to gather information is to call around and talk to other patients and their families. If they feel involved with their child’s therapist and have a good rapport with them this is a good sign that your therapist will work well with your family.

Not all therapists will click with you right away, sometimes you need to meet with several therapists to find one that you feel comfortable leaving your child with. After all, worrying about your child’s progress and the therapist they are with, instead of staying positive and enjoying the experience, will cause issues in the future.

How Should Your ABA Therapist Act?

Once you have hired your therapist it is important that they are reliable, stick to a good routine, and enjoy spending time with your child. If the therapist doesn’t enjoy your child’s company, laugh with them and have fun with them, this can put a dent in your child’s progress. They should also be reaching out to teachers, your child’s doctors and integrating themselves into the team that makes up your child’s treatment.

And the number one way to tell if you’ve found the right therapist who knows their stuff, is if your child is making progress under their guidance. You can always try a new therapist later if this isn’t the case, sometimes it’s best just to make the leap with a therapist you like and see how it goes.

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Finding The Right Therapist

Before your child starts Applied Behavioral Analyses (ABA) therapy there may be many things you need to know about ABA and your therapist. ABA therapy can increase your child’s learning abilities which helps in all areas of their life, so it’s important to find the right therapist.

But what questions can parents ask to get the right results?

What are your qualifications?

A good response would be – somebody with a BA in fields pertaining to psychology and child care, and a certificate in ABA.

What experience do you have? Can you refer me to other parents you have worked with?

A good therapist for your child is one who has worked with Autistic children before. You can discover a lot by calling other parents who have worked with the therapist.

What happens during an ABA session?

A therapist who is re-assuring, kind, and takes time to explain how a session will be for your child is a good therapist. This will also tell you what your child is likely to go through and allow you to agree with their methods.

How many hours per week will my child need to be in therapy?

It’s good to know this so you can build your schedule around therapy.

How often can you update me on my child’s progress?

It’s important to know if ABA is working well for your child and as parents sometimes we can be impatient. A therapist knows how well ABA is working for your child and can give frequent updates to help you feel settled in your child’s progress.

Can you work with my child’s school?

Having a therapist who can keep your Autistic child’s teachers up to date on methods to help your child is a bonus.

Do you provide training or support for family, so that ABA can continue from home?

Children whose parents continue ABA at home succeed more often.

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ABA Training for Parents

 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a fantastic therapy for an Autistic child, as it helps to achieve something called generalization. This is when a child is able to perform actions in all areas of their lives. If you’ve ever seen your child use certain words, or perform certain tasks at school but not at home (or the opposite) ABA therapy can help!

But to do this we as parents need to be heavily involved. Research has shown that parents who are involved with their child’s ABA therapy are more likely to succeed. ABA therapy is labor intensive and takes a whole team, a parent who has a big say in this team is able to co-ordinate more efficiently – after all you see your child in all areas of their life.

A child whose parent isn’t deeply involved with ABA therapy, or don’t understand the goals and outcomes the therapist is looking for, may find that their child is only able to perform certain actions around the therapist. This can be frustrating, and can even knock our self-esteem as parents. We want to feel a sense of control and be able to teach our own children, ABA therapy not only gives you an active role to play but helps you feel as if you are helping your child in ways you couldn’t before.

There are many organizations that provide ABA training for parents, including some online schools. Getting as much information about ABA therapy, from schooling, to online, to your own therapist will help your child reach the goals that you want them to achieve. 

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Introducing Incidental Teaching to ABA Therapy

  Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy is a fun activity that teaches your child how to engage in the world, learn basic and complex language, skills and behavior.  There are many types of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), the Lovaas Method is one type and we have discussed Discrete Trial Training (DTT) that the Lovaas method uses. But another type of play for your child during ABA is called Incidental teaching.

Incidental teaching is when an environment is created for the child that motivates them to learn about the world around them. This means putting objects out of reach but still in sight, in a room set up to encourage your child to ask for the things they want. Instead of the therapist initiating engagement, as with (DTT), the therapist will wait for the child to mention the object or talk about it. The therapist then prompts the child to talk about the object or ask for the object.

You can do this at home too. If you place your childs favorite toy somewhere they can see it but can’t reach it and then your child points or approaches the toy, you could say the word of the toy as a prompt. For example, ‘teddy’ and wait to see if the child asks for the teddy. If they child asks for the teddy you can hand them the toy.

This sounds so simple because it is something we as parents do a lot, and something you see over and over with non-autistic children. But we know Autistic children have a hard time initializing conversation. However, it is because Autistic children struggle in this area that this therapy works. It not only encourages language but helps your child engage with their environment, which motivates them in the future by practicing engagement, and consequences of engagement.

As time goes on the therapist will fade out all prompts until the child is able to approach the object and ask for it when they see it, or perhaps without even seeing the object in question.  This can also be used to teach reading, create complex conversations and teach propositions (on, in, under).

This therapy is a fun, exciting way for a child to learn about the world around them in an exciting, gentle environment.

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