From the moment a child is born, they’re flooded with information and, over the first 5-10 years of their life, they need to sift through it all to figure out the world around them and their place in it.
For kids with a developmental disorder like autism spectrum disorder, which affects 1 in 31 kids in the United States, this developmental process can be altered. Depending upon the severity of the autism (that’s why we call it a spectrum), kids with autism can turn inward rather than outward during these years, which can set the stage for a more limited life.
At Celebrations Speech Group, our goal is to help kids with autism develop so they can lead more independent and social lives. A key part of this effort is early intervention applied behavioral analysis (ABA), which is designed to set your child up for long-term success.
If you’re reading this, we’re sure you understand all too well how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can affect kids. Still, we want to do a quick review to help you better understand how applied behavioral analysis works.
At its core, ASD is a neurodevelopmental issue that can lead to a wide range of issues with:
No two kids with autism are the same and symptoms can range widely — on one end of the spectrum, kids can function very well and independently, while kids on the other end of the spectrum are nonverbal and need round-the-clock care.
The symptoms of autism typically start around the age of 2 or 3, and most kids with ASD are diagnosed around the age of 5.
Studies show that intervening early with autism — even as early as 2 or 3 — can have an incredibly positive impact on a child’s development. Kids are far more receptive to intervention during this time because their brains are still forming.
Autism can slowly erode development, but through early intervention, we get the pendulum swinging back in the other direction to help kids reach their full potential.
In fact, some kids with milder cases of ASD can even get off the spectrum if they:
Through applied behavioral analysis, we can work on all of these factors. (Please note that there is some room to move the needle on IQ in kids, but moderate to severe intellectual disability can’t be changed.)
Now that we’ve emphasized the importance of early intervention for ASD, let’s look at how it can unfold.
ABA isn’t one protocol that we use across the board for all kids with ASD. Just as no two kids follow the same ASD path, there are no two identical ABA journeys. With ABA, we meet your child where they’re at and, after a full assessment, we go from there.
That said, most ABA plans often include:
Much of the ABA work involves teaching kids with autism about behaviors and their consequences — we show kids how their actions have consequences, which helps them to work through their impulses.
To do this, we work in one-on-one situations, as well as with group, play-based ABA work. And this point is an important one — ABA isn’t punitive. It’s positive reinforcement in action and we often hide the therapeutic “work” in the form of play to help kids stay focused.
So, if you want to set your child up for the best chances of success, both now and in the long-term, we encourage you to learn more about how early intervention ABA can help. To sit down with one of our specialists to learn more, simply contact one of our offices in Brentwood, Stockton, or Elk Grove, California, today to schedule an appointment.
