This is one of the most widely accepted therapies for children with autism spectrum disorder. ABA training is most effective if therapy begins when children are younger than age 7, although older children with ASD can also benefit.
ABA was initially created in the 1960s to support autistic children. Today, it is sometimes used in therapy for ADHD or traumatic brain injuries, but autistic people still make up the vast majority of ABA recipients. According to a survey by the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, more than 80% of ABA practitioners work with autistic children.
ABA helps teach social, motor, and verbal behaviors, as well as reasoning skills, and works to manage challenging behavior. It’s based on teaching these skills through observation and positive reinforcement.
To get the most benefit from applied behavior analysis, your child will need extensive regular therapy session each week..
ABA training is also most effective if you get training in it yourself. That way, you can teach your child and constantly reinforce positive behaviors. However, using it is very time-consuming and takes a lot of skill to get right.
But it will help your child generalize the skills they have learned. It also will help lower the likelihood that your child will engage in unhealthy or negative behaviors.
