ABA Question

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• by
  • melissarose72
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 8:48 AM

• I would think that depends on your child.  My son has been receiving ABA therapy (in a center, with other kids around. 1 therapist for every 1 to 2 kids) since he was 24/25 mo old. He'll be 3 in November. I LIKE that he receives therapy at their center. They have been awesome. Parents do not stay in the therapy room, with this center. That was tough at first (seperation anxiety, big time), but it's worked out. He still has seperation anxiety, but it's gotten so much better. Transitions are just tough for my little guy, regardless.

  With early intervention, he's had speech therapy & OT at home....I think there are too many distractions at home. We don't have enough room to "hide" his stuff. He has run away, turned his back & ignored therapists on occasion. Not always, but enough of the time (seemed to depend on the therapist & Aaron's mood that day). We tried putting him in his high chair for some of his speech therapy (made him angry). Tried holding him in my lap. It's very tough to do. He's just an active little guy. Maybe running out of the room was a break for him or a way to cope with a stranger in our house. At Step by Step (where he receives ABA), they also do in home therapy. (when I signed up there was a wait list for in home, so I just went with in the center therapy).

  We are moving to a new state next month & there....apparently ABA is done in the home. (small town/area) I'm disappointed, but we'll see how it goes. We know the area (lived there before & loved it), we want to live there again...so we'll make things work. Maybe he's old enough that it will work out. I've also heard that the therapists do community outings as part of the therapy, so that should be interesting. We're looking to rent a bit bigger house this time (fingers crossed) so Aaron's toys aren't in every area of the house. If not, we'll just have to adjust.

  We've had such a good experience with ABA. I hope the next therapists are just as kind & dedicated.

• 
• by
  • Kate00
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 9:01 AM

• Hi -

  My son is 19 months old and has been receiving ABA and speech in the home for about 3 months.  He has made great progress.  We are going to be supplementing the at home with going to a clinic starting in a few weeks so I'll be able to compare the two, but right now my only experience is with in home.

  One thing that has been great about the in home is that it has allowed me to duplicate a lot of what the therapist was doing.  I live in Florida and services are just awful - we are getting only one hour a week and we are paying for 2 more out of pocket so I've been doing the best I can to work with him as often as possible on my own since what we're getting from the state isn't nearly enough.  Being able to watch how the ABA therapist incorporates daily activities into therapy has been really helpful.  Will has also recently gotten more stranger anxiety so I think being in his own environment helps there.

  I think there are advantages to both in home and clinic.

   

• 
• by
  • willsmomstacie
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 9:50 AM

• We've been doing intensive home ABA therapy for over 3 years now with unbelievable results.  I'm a huge ABA fan.  When my son started at 18 months he had absolutely no communication skills.  He is now semi-conversational and the most social kid in his typical pre-school.  I attribute it to the intensive ABA combined with treating his underlying medical issues to make him more available for learning.

  Like one of the previous posters said, I like having it at home because I am able to watch and learn and continue what they are doing.   Consistency is so important and if I am able to address his behaviors the same way that the therapists do, and teach him the same way they do, then he's getting way more ABA than just what the county is giving him.
  

  Willsmomstacie

  
  

    Will, diagnosed at 18 months w/ASD, non-verbal, no eye contact, no play or social skills.  Now 4, VERY verbal, great eye contact, great play skills and increadibly social.  He's on the road to recovery with ABA therapy and biomedical intervention.

  
  

  Spread the word - Autism is TREATABLE!!  Many stereotypical behaviors of autism are symptoms of underlying undiagnosed/misdiagnosed/unrecognized medical issues that can be addressed.  Come join us and learn more about biomedical interventions for spectrum disorders.  www.cafemom.com/group/biomedmammas

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• by
  • charwoman
  on Nov. 9, 2009 at 8:26 AM

• we, also have had a very positive experence with ABA.  asd (non-verbal) son is now 5 1/2; received in-home speech and OT from early intervention.  they didn't offer ABA in-home at the time.  now going to wonderful clinic for 2 1/2 yrs.  Just great! can't praise them enough.  same therapist has worked with him and supervised his case the whole time.  just started intensive program: 3 hrs an afternoon (he's in a.m. kindergarten), two days a week.  may work up to more hours.  totally agree with previous posters... in-home vs. clinic is a choice made on an individual basis.  I like the clinic setting because I think he would be too distracted at home.  He's being going long enough that he knows what's expected of him there.  and I always know exactly what they are doing with him; constant communication with therapist, communication journel written in every session and they regularly video tape his sessions, discuss and share tape with us.  His supervising therapist is even meeting with his kindergarten teacher to 'get on the same page' as far as approach, etc. is concerned.  Your son is quite young yet.  it will take time but a good ABA program will motivate him to participate, more and more.  best of luck!                                                                                                              charwoman

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• by
  • Beth100
  on Nov. 9, 2009 at 11:32 AM

• Hi Jen.....I think the perfect thing is to split up the time between home and therapy site.  Of course, it depends on how many issues you have in the home.  My grandson does both and we leave it to the discretion of the therapist.  I must tell you that the kid is "wise" to the situation and will behave perfectly while the therapist is in the home.....but all He** breaks loose when he leaves.  However, a parent can get some tips on helps while the therapist is there.  It is non the less a struggle, but might possibly give you some insight.    Beth100

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• by
  • momtoluke0409
  on Nov. 9, 2009 at 12:37 PM

• ABA has made a huge difference for my ds. He has been in ABA for over 5 months now, mainly at his mainstream pre-school. I do a few hours over the weekend, just so I can stay informed on what he is working on, and it helps me incorporate into his daily routine as well. He is pretty high-functioning and had a lot of language at the start, but it was formulating that language into functional and appropriate statements of more then just 1-2 word phrases to communicate, is where he struggled most.

  Our therapist does a combo of individual therapy and group with the typical kids (I cannot believe the preschool actually agreed to let us do this!). And, they also do some more aide type work, where he does still get to participate in the regular activities in the classroom. Having the ABA therapist do the aide work, is great because they help him incorporate what he has learned to his natural environment.  

  Today, 5 months later, with a combo of ABA, ST, OT, my son uses 7-8 word sentences appropriately, understands many complicated grammar rules such as the use of pronouns, there, here, past/present tense, etc. It is amazing.  

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