What Is Occupational Therapy and How Can it Help My Autistic Child?
Occupational therapy gives children with autism the tools and support to develop their abilities. The skills they develop enable them to live fuller, richer lives.
Could Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Be Right for Your Child?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) encompasses a range of different strategies and techniques aimed at helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to learn new skills and behaviors. The techniques are based on scientific ideas and focus on making observable progress through repeating acts.
The multidisciplinary team at PediaPlex offers various therapies, including ABA therapy at their office in one convenient location. In providing a collaborative care approach, the Pedia Plex team helps children reach their potential. Here’s more about ABA therapy and why it may be best for your child.
Tailored to the needs of your child
The ability to create an individualized treatment plan is one reason ABA is so effective. The concepts of ABA therapy are easily modified to fit your child’s unique needs, and work in conjunction with other treatments.
ABA therapists use positive reinforcement to help children gain skills and discourage negative behavior to help children learn.
ABA therapists employ evidence-based strategies, proven in studies, that benefit children with autism and other developmental disorders. Early intensive services for children diagnosed with ASD can result in major changes in behavior and skills.
Highly adaptable
ABA is adaptable in terms of learning contexts. ABA therapists consistently tailor their services to the specific needs of each family. There are services available at home, in schools, and in clinics. Unlike many other treatments, ABA does not have to take place in a separate therapy room. One of the primary goals is generalization. ABA therapists advocate for a variety of locations.
This way, the skills your child learns aren’t limited to one location, such as at home. Your child will learn to apply skills at school and other socially relevant places.
Parent and caregiver inclusion
Caregivers' involvement is one of the most important factors in promoting successful therapies. Caregivers are frequently encouraged to participate in therapeutic processes such as learning effective coping skills and determining treatment goals. Because typical parenting practices are rarely helpful for children with ASD, this engagement generally reduces stress at home.
Seven principles that make ABA therapy effective
Applied behavior analysis is founded on seven fundamental concepts. These ideas are known as the seven ABA dimensions. Any ABA services your child receives will incorporate some of these qualities.
1. Generalization
ABA assists children with applying what they learn in therapy to various settings with different people, allowing them to have more success in their daily lives. As your child gains new skills, he will learn how to apply them in each setting.
2. Behavioral
ABA therapy targets behaviors that can be seen and measured.
3. Effective
The goal of ABA therapy is to deliver effective services. ABA therapists continue to work with each child, trying different approaches with a focus on helping your child gain the skills necessary to improve their lives.
4. Technological
ABA intervention plans are written in a clear and easy-to-implement manner so that more than one person can execute the plan. This contributes to the effectiveness of ABA therapy.
5. Applied
ABA is concerned with socially relevant actions. ABA therapists work with your child to identify meaningful and notable goals for them to work on. Therapy recognizes the unique ability and needs of each child. ABA therapists get to the heart of which skills your child needs to thrive.
6. Analytic
ABA services are data-driven, which allows them to be more effective.
7. Systematic in concepts
ABA therapy is founded on the science of behavior, and focuses on understanding how your child learns, behaves, and changes.
Skills and abilities ABA therapy can help children gain
ABA can help your child gain a variety of skills, including:
- Daily living abilities
- Self-care abilities
- Attention
- Social skills
- Academic abilities
- Self-management
- Emotional maturation
- Language abilities
- Play and leisure skills
- Safety skills
ABA therapy can also help reduce distressing behaviors, such as self-harm.
At PediaPlex, our team believes in utilizing therapies rooted in extensive evidence and scientific support. To find out if ABA therapy is right for your child, call our center to schedule a visit for a pediatric evaluation at one of our offices in Southlake, Fort Worth, or Frisco, Texas.
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