The number one form of therapy showing the most improvement for children with autism is applied behavioral analyses therapy (ABA). It is sometimes referred to as Lovaas treatment, which is one brand of ABA. Success was first recorded in 1967 but became wide spread in 1993. This is a thoroughly tested therapy with a lot of proven success stories behind it.
When ABA therapy is done right many parents see it’s similar to one-on-one tutoring that any child of a young age goes through. Sometimes a child with autism needs an extra bit of love and care ABA provides.
What is ABA?
ABA is simply an intense teaching program that will help your child’s behavior. A child is presented with a stimulus and is taught to act appropriately. This is often something that a child with autism struggles with, especially if they have sensory processing disorder.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory processing disorder is when a child is unable to process surrounding senses correctly, leading to under or over stimulation. This can show in all forms of behavior from not reacting to pain, to becoming unusually frightened by sounds; such as a toilet flushing.
What ABA is not…
A way to punish a child for bad behaviors associated with autism, or to ‘get rid’ of certain behaviors such as stimming. A child is redirected not punished. Another concern is your child will become a robot, but this doesn’t happen. Your child will remain the same lovable, emotional human they always were.
How intense is ABA?
ABA consists of 40-hour week therapy sessions, which is a lot of time and effort for the therapist, but mostly fun and play for the child. The length of this therapy is likely why it works so well.
How long will my child be doing ABA?
Some children do as little as 20 hours a week. The most success is found between 30-40 hours a week, for about two years. This isn’t that intensive because the child is mostly playing like they would in the real world — but with a little bit of help.