You have just learned that your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This might come as a surprise for some parents, while some parents may have been expecting it.
No matter the case, all the parents who receive this diagnosis struggle to imagine a future for their children. However, the important thing is that despite there being NO CURE, there is HOPE.
With Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), your child will be able to learn new skills and grow within their potential.
Before starting with your child’s learning, the first important thing is to educate yourself about the diagnosis and adjust your home environment for your child.
What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
ABA therapy is based on the scientific study of behavior. This therapy involves the improvement of social, communication, and learning skills through strategies.
Many experts consider the ABA the only treatment to treat Autism in children. The ABA therapy is centered around increasing social behavior and developing communication skills.
The ABA treatment involves:
- Visual Aids
- Peer Training
- Promotion Skills
Types Of ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis is an umbrella term. Under this treatment, therapists use different methods to treat children with Autism.
- Early Start Denver Model: This method is used for Kids from 12 to 48 months. The therapy includes playing and doing joint activities to encourage language, cognitive and social skills.
- Discrete Trial Training: This method breaks down the lessons into simple tasks. Every completion of a task is rewarded with positive reinforcement of behavior.
- Pivotal Response Training: This training involves encouraging children to start conversations with others. While conversing with others, they can practice their social skills and monitor their own behavior.
- Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention: For children below the age of 5, this method helps them build positive behavior and reduce unwanted behavior.
Benefits Of ABA
While there are no concrete methods to treat Autism, experts have seen that ABA has been effective in treating Autistic children. This can be combined with other supplementary techniques such as dietary supplements and lifestyle changes for maximum benefits.
The benefits are as follows.
Teaches Social Skills
ABA therapy encourages children to talk with others. It involves starting a conversation to get to know them and slowly become friends. This occurs on a different scale depending on the child and their ability.
The children who are nonverbal might not be able to get the most out of it. However, most can learn some form of social interaction skills to make connections with others.
Improve Communication Skills
Social skills are not only limited to interacting with people only. It also extends to communication skills. Interacting with others is one thing, but properly communicating is another.
The Applied Behavior Analysis helps children talk with others just like a normal person and hold valuable communication.
Reduce Problem Behavior
Research has shown that ABA therapy effectively helps children learn new skills. In addition, the therapy ensures children are kept away from behaviors that might pose problems.
One study has shown that the Early Start Denver Model can help children improve their IQ level and behavior. In addition, as the treatment starts at an early age of 12 months, it helps prevent the symptoms from surfacing.
Enhancing The Child’s Ability To Perform Academically
Researchers tell us that if you start treating your child with ABA from an early age, almost 50% of children reap the benefits in their academics.
ABA gives the parents and children the right tools to access independence and life skills such as using the bathroom, eating a balanced diet, sleeping well through the night, and keeping up with studies.
Increased Life Satisfaction
ABA gives the children and their parents a tremendous gift – The ability to enjoy life. When children feel independent, learn the right social skills, and easily deal with frustration, they feel empowered.
Once they learn important skills, they can exercise their emotions in the right direction, form bonds, and contribute to the community.
End Goal!
The goal of ABA depends on the individual child’s needs. While different children have different needs to overcome Autism, we have outlined goals that you can achieve with ABA.
- Communicating with other people effectively
- Showing more interest in people around you
- Having more focus in school
- Stopping the self-harming behavior
- Stabilizing emotional behavior
- Full control over the emotions
With effective ABA therapy, you can ensure your child steps into a better life.
