If you are looking for therapeutic treatments for a loved one with autism, you may already know that there are many options and even more information to confuse matters. For every treatment that shows success, there are likely to be naysayers insisting that it doesn’t work. However, as the old adage tells us, the proof is in the pudding, and among the most common scientifically-backed treatments is ABA or applied behavior analysis.
What is ABA?
In short, simple terms, ABA uses a set of well-established principles that focus on the ways that behaviors are affected or change within a set environment. It also looks at how learning does or does not occur in a specific setting. The goal is to improve and establish socially important behaviors for the individual with autism.
As a prime example, ABA looks directly at a child, what or who surrounds them, and what responses or problems arise in such a setting. ABA looks for triggers that might cause aggression or unwelcome behaviors. It is handled by a team of people who observe and track a child’s responses to ensure that triggering events are noted.
Yet, some groups have difficulty with ABA and say that it may not be the best treatment. They argue that compliance-based treatments are not compatible with all kids, or that a system that looks for aggression-triggering issues is not effective. That begs the question:
Is there another autism treatment that does not work vs. science-based ABA therapy? In other words, what can we say to demonstrate that ABA is the right path for most with autism?
Working with ABA Services
If you are going to look at an autism treatment that does not seem to work when compared to science-based ABA, you would see a list of therapeutic remedies. They include speech and play-based therapies, physical and occupational therapies, and even nutritional therapies that seek to reduce symptoms through radical changes in the diet.
ABA does use a far wider spectrum analysis of an individual, though. It uses evaluations of a child’s functioning across an array of areas in their life. It looks at their current language skills, motor skills, self-care capabilities, and social skills. It also considers a child’s unique personality and any problem behaviors. It takes their interests into account and uses parental interviews, testing, and observation of the individual to draw insightful conclusions.
It is important to remember that it is also going to look for ways to connect to a child or individual with autism nonverbally. This is because communication is not always going to be effective when conducted verbally. The individual with autism may prefer nonverbal cues such as gestures, sounds, or facial expressions.
At the bottom of it all, ABA is meant to help parents and caregivers determine the best ways to support the individual with ABA. It does not attempt to normalize or categorize behaviors or reactions. It is among the most effective treatments. If you’re looking for ABA therapy in Miami, PBS Therapy is here to help, and you can learn more or get in contact with us by visiting our website.
