7 Most Effective ABA Therapy Methods & scenarios

According to a report in the US, 27 out of every 1000 children are diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. What is ASD? The World Health Organization considers ASD to encompass a range of disabilities marked by sensory issues, speech challenges, repetitive behaviors, and extreme hampered social interaction. The symptoms of autism are visible in early childhood. ASD can be attributed to several factors most commonly genetics.

The special needs of autistic children change with time and they require plenty of micromanagement. This article will delve deep into the various therapy techniques for autism intended for parents of children with ASD.

Positive Reinforcement Therapy

There is a consequence for every behavior similarly a consequence is a positive reinforcer and it enhances the behavior it follows(Malcott, Malott, and Trojan, 2000).

If you greet a person with a smile and the other person waves in return, the smiling behavior is reinforced and is likely to occur repeatedly. Over 35 years of research have proved the efficacy of positive reinforcement to improve behavior.

How does it work?

Let me show you an important study about praising and rewarding autistic children with challenges. There was a child who faced trouble wearing glasses, and he needed to wear glasses. Scientists found that by giving him lots of credit and rewards when he wore his glasses, he started doing it often.

Similarly, we cheer for our kids when they do something extraordinary, and they feel content and want to do it again. This study helps us comprehend how encouragement and rewards can help kids do things they find throughout is vital for them. It is one of the most sought-after therapy techniques for autism.

Negative Reinforcement Therapy

Negative reinforcement implies when something already present is taken away due to a person’s conduct, creating a favorable outcome for that person. When a person’s actions result in the elimination of something unpleasant, it denotes the occurrence of negative

Punishing a child with ABA on rare occasions is necessary because the child is likely to throw tantrums leading to more tantrums in the future.

Punishments should be given in moderation just to curb the symptoms.

How Does It Work?

For instance, you can take away the toys for a while when the child is not listening, parents who do not partake in negative reinforcement have to bear tantrums as a negative result.

Aggression is a threat that is quite common in autistic children especially among boys, One out of every autistic child goes through spells of aggression this aggression if not controlled can lead to further issues in the school.

The aggressiveness is targeted at teachers, parents, or guardians but it is not deliberate, but rather an inevitable symptom of autism. Therefore negative reinforcement is one of the most effective therapy techniques that need to be practiced to keep the aggressive spells under control.

Generalization

Generalization is helpful when you need to teach a child with autism. It implies the usage of familiar structures that the child has already learned and integrates into other activities.

For example, a child has learned to brush his teeth through a visual step-by-step routine now the therapist will teach him how to make his bed using the same visual step-by-step routine. With the help of the same technique, the child is able to enhance his skills and make his bed easily and independently.

Exercise

Exercise has a bunch of benefits that are beneficial for not only “autistic kids but all kinds of people. It helps to maintain a physical as well as an emotional connection with the child. Exercise has a range of benefits that include:

1) Helps release energy: Exercise is a great way to defuse the excess energy that could be turned into aggressive tantrums. It is also known to increase the happy Hormone. Some autistic children have insomnia so it’s a great alternative to medicines also.

2) Improves memory: Exercise helps to improve memory, especially for autistic kids who find it difficult to remember their daily rituals. It gives them a daily routine to follow and to be self-aware about themselves.

3) Enhances verbal and social skills: Exercise is a Single activity that demands complete attention. You need to listen carefully to follow the instructions and engage in an effective and interactive way. Autistic children can benefit from exercise it improves sensory regulation and coordination.

Parent Guided Intervention

The most effective ABA therapy treatment does not depend on the therapist alone, it needs to be directed towards the parents. To experience the long-term benefits of ABA therapy the therapist should assist the parents in guiding their child with various activities. The therapist needs to train the parents on some of the basic techniques.

The parent-child relationship is natural and so the learning experience it will provide is irreplaceable for the child. The therapist should train the parents on behavioral techniques such as chaining, shaping, and task analysis. Teaching them about various positive and negative reinforcement routines will help produce better outcomes.

Scripting

Scripting in ABA therapy implies the usage of prewritten words or phrases that the child can use in various social situations. The therapist creates the scenario and then decides on the script for the child. It helps them to gain the experience of a natural setting.

The script is quite simple and directive, it demands one task at a time. Scripting helps children with autism to commence their social lives. They understand how to act and answer in a naturalistic setting.

Extinction

In simple terms, extinction in ABA therapy is like like ignoring something to get the result out of it. It’s when the reward or punishment for the recent behavior is not giving a positive response. It’s like turning off the lights when someone is messing up with the button.

This indicates the therapist does not pay attention to the behavior. Since the response is not visible the child might abandon the behavior completely. Extinction is a passive ABA therapy technique. Its effects are not immediately visible whereas it performs well in the future.

Wrapping Up

ABA therapy proves beneficial for autistic children who are about to start school. There are numerous findings on how kids with autism have come out of ABA therapy with phenomenal results. Autism happens as a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.

It can seriously hamper the physical, emotional, and social development of a child. Hence, ABA therapy is essential and should be taken seriously. ABA, as simple as it sounds holds the capacity to transform the lives of these children. Don’t hesitate to implement these techniques at home.