Do you have a child with autism and you’re wondering if you should try Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)? For many families, this therapy has gotten their child to stop disruptive behaviors and express themselves more constructively. This is a big achievement, and it’s what most parents want for their kids.
If you’re thinking about trying ABA with your child, there are plenty of reasons to at least give it a shot. For instance, home ABA therapy sessions make it easy to get therapy without leaving your house.
Is ABA right for you? Here are five indicators that this therapy might help your child.
- Your child is still young, under 6 years old
Although many older children benefit from ABA therapy, most kids are under six years old when they begin sessions. This isn’t a rule, but if your kids are still young, they’ll have a better chance of getting results if they start now.
As with most things, the earlier the intervention, the better. When you start ABA therapy with your child at a young age, it can help them develop effective communication skills and learn to follow directions, which are crucial skills for preschool and kindergarten. Even though you’ll need to continue working with your child, it will make their life easier when they enter school.
If you choose to stick with ABA therapy, your child will continue to develop the skills they need to be productive in a classroom setting and in their personal life with friends and at home.
- Other therapies haven’t worked
There are a variety of therapies designed to help kids with autism. Some are based around building communication skills and teamwork, while others help children with general needs, like interacting with their peers and learning how to complete assignments on time. When you’ve tried other therapies and aren’t seeing the results you want, or if you can’t get your child to participate, it’s time to try ABA therapy.
ABA programs are highly tailored to meet each child’s needs and goals are created with parental input. There are also strategies you can learn and apply on a daily basis to keep your child on the right track.
- You need an in-home therapy option
Even the best parents are often busy and don’t always have time to drive their kids to see a therapist somewhere across town. If this sounds like your situation, you’re probably hoping to find a solution you can try at home.
If you’re looking at all the options for kids with autism, you have several choices. However, not all therapies are available as in-home sessions. Some are only available with specialists that work far from home, or even out-of-state. Even when you do locate a therapist, they might not be taking new patients.
If it’s important or even necessary that a therapist come to your house to work with your child, ABA therapy is a good choice. Unlike some options, it’s common for ABA clinicians to come to a child’s home. In fact, some organizations exist solely as in-home providers.
- Your child was just diagnosed with autism
The best time to start any kind of autism therapy is right after your child has been diagnosed. If you’ve chosen ABA therapy to start with, don’t wait because every day counts.
Compared to older kids, younger children with autism go through more critical periods where they’re exceptionally sensitive to environmental stimuli. When you teach your child key concepts at a young age, it will solidify faster and help them more in the long run. For example, they’ll have an easier time in school, which is probably the best reason to act sooner than later.
- Your older child struggles with self-sufficient tasks
For older kids, ABA therapy can help them learn skills they need to be self-sufficient on a daily basis. For example, they can learn how to feed and clothe themselves, bathe, and go to the toilet. If you have an older child who struggles with these tasks, try ABA therapy.
Feeling stuck? Give ABA therapy a try
It’s not easy having a child with autism, but ABA therapy can help. Your child will benefit greatly from improving their communication and learning constructive behavior and social skills.
By choosing this therapy, you’ll be giving your child a better chance at enjoying life and doing well in their academic pursuits.
