Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that results in persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and communication , learning age appropriate skills in various other areas of development. Most Children with Autism overcome physical and motor coordination challenges in developing years as a result of consistent opportunity to be involved in same. But overcoming their shortcomings and developing age appropriate social, play, speech and language learning skills remain to be challenge which reflects its impact on overall growth and age appropriate development in child.
Inconsistency in initiating and maintaining eye contact.
Inconsistency in Performance of various activities.
Repetitive Behavior , Play or Thoughts
Usually in self, unless he/she is willing to interact
Restricted in age appropriate learning
Fixation with environment, routine, habits, way of conduct
Inconsistent in hearing and using Speech and Language
There is no scan or lab reports which can justify the condition or diagnosis.
Child's developmental history and behaviors are tracked on standardised scale to make a diagnosis.
A diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable.
Many children do not receive a final diagnosis until they are much older.
There are possibilities.
- Having an immediate family member with autism
- Genetic mutations
- Fragile X syndrome and other genetic disorders
- Being born to older parents
- Low birth weight
- Metabolic imbalances
- Exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins
- A history of viral infections
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), both genetics and environment may determine whether a person develops autism.
*fetal exposure to the medications valproic acid (Depakene) or thalidomide (Thalomid) Multiple sources, old and new Trusted Source, have concluded that the disorder isn’t caused by vaccines, however.
A controversial 1998 study proposed a link between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However, that study has been debunked by other research and was eventually retracted in 2010Trusted Source
Intervention for children facing difficulties doesn't really rely on cause of Autism so pinpointing exact cause in most cases remain to be insignificant.
Behaviors usually come in notice as early as 1.2 or earlier than that. You do not require diagnosis at this age but awareness of symptoms being atypical is enough for parents to start required learning and training from the professional
Overall Stimulation and early Intervention along with appropriate parents training can help children overcome symptoms and learning to happen with minimum efforts.
Remember, Early the age, less expectations , less parental anxiety and lots of hope makes situation more to be in control than later
Growing age increases expectations from individual so as challenges and intensity of the difficulties
Not only early intervention, there is an absolute need of early appropriate intervention
Anxiety on the Spectrum!
Anxiety is the most common co-occurring disorder in people with autism spectrum disorders. It is understandable since their nervous systems have to work so hard just to "fit in" with our world. The constant stress on the nervous system due to all the sensory, cognitive, social and emotional vulnerabilities they experience naturally leaves them very prone to anxiety. Their nervous systems are on “high alert†leaving them anxious and on guard. It is important to help the child feel "safe and accepted", and to minimize the amount of stress in their lives.
For many children on the spectrum anxiety is a daily experience. Anxiety is one of the most common conditions associated with autism/aspergers. Their nervous systems are so fragile that simple day to day processing and regulating our world is very taxing for them.
What comes natural for us is hard work for them. Much chaos and confusion naturally results in anxiety. Studies have shown that even in a resting state, their nervous systems are on high alert with greater levels of stress chemicals, as compared to neurotypical (NT) people. Since the world can be very overwhelming, it makes sense that there would be stronger levels of anxiety for these children due to which they usually comfort themselves irrationally and develop challenging behaviors like obsessive compulsive behavior, oppositional defiance, rigid/inflexible thinking, perseverations, rigid reliance on rituals/routines, compulsive need for sameness, mood swings ,self stimulatory Behaviors as well as a variety of other challenging behaviors.
Sensory Integration is ability to integrate all 7 senses for learning to happen These kind of indulgence makes them off from their environment causing hindarance in age appropriate learning resulting them to fixated and limited to sensory/self stimulatory play.
It is majorly affected due to deviant neurology along with anxiety in children with Autism and related difficulties.
Sensory play is kind of play where individual involves senses to get entertained and seeks pleasure in same.
Every individual between age of 0-6 months gets involved in Sensory play i.e tastes, sights, sounds, textures, movements and then slowly develop them into social play followed by cognitive play.
However individuals with social anxiety and anxiety of accepting changes being major concerns they dont develop sensory integration process and remain to be fixated in their limited sensory fun and delay learning of age appropriate social interaction, play and language. Above mentioned concerns result in delay functional skill development and all age appropriate targets.
All kind of sensory play skills need to developed further as early as possible to develop age appropriate social and cognitive play skills
No Vaccine, Procedures ,Surgery or Medications are proven to be successful in working on persons temperament to change his/her Behavior pattern.
There is absolutely no other solution than therapeutic training. There are medication to support the intervention. They are prescribed by Developmental Pediatrician or Pediatric Neurologist or Psychiatrist if needed.
Physiotherapist help children achieve their optimal physical development and movement. Mostly needed with diagnosis of conditions that are likely to affect physical skills in children.
Occupational therapy helps in developing physical strength, motor coordination and stamina building while teaching functional activities requiring physical coordination.
Speech therapy for Vocal Sound articulation, language and commun -ication enhancement.
Special education in achieving skills to learn age appropriate academics.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the approach . ABA is the science of Behavior which is to be changed and efficient learning.It refers to a set of principles that focus behavior change, how learning takes place. The term behavior refers to actions needed to do age appropriate activities.
It is most researched approach and has proven techniques of to use while training functional skills to ensure growth in required areas of development
It's the science every therapist can learn to make their training and intervention effective and result driven.
ABA therapist are those who has innately learned these principles and apply them in their training of functional skills to get results as timely as possible to fasten the process of learning and achieve age appropriate goals as early as possible.
These principles should not be choice rather they should be essential learn and be part of all the training programs to make them effective.
It's an additional cerificate offered by Board of applied Behavior Analysis ( Colorado-USA) to professionals who undergo required learning and skill training to be Certified as BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analysis.
Professionals of ABA based intervention centers help imbibe science of behaviour into every training program to make it efficient and result oriented be it sensory integration,motor coordination, speech language communication or academics.
Simply it's a science for efficient therapy and effective learning.
It is an application of ABA principles in area of speech, language and communication
Verbal Behavior Training works on developing skills under verbal operants for systematic language acquisition and communication building.
Verbal Behavior Training is Speech and Language therapy which uses principles of B.F Skinner in the therapy sessions.
Functional Analysis i.e Verbal Behavior training to modify speech is the only supreme way and most efficient practice to build required language and communication skills.
Only ABA professionals recieve extensive training in verbal behavior as part of their coursework
So,this makes us understand that ABA is not an individual therapy science however,it's a science of human behaviour which makes learning more efficient and timely.
Verbal Behavior Training is science of verbal behavior which helps individuals to learn speech language communication which is utmost challanging with kids with ASD in most systemically and efficiently
So,this makes us understand that ABA is not an individual therapy science however,it's a science of human behaviour which makes learning more efficient and timely.
Verbal Behavior Training is science of verbal behavior which helps individuals to learn speech language communication which is utmost challanging with kids with ASD in most systemically and efficiently.
Myth 1:
ABA is only for children with ASD.
Research has shown ABA to be effective in teaching skills across all domains to typically developing children, as well as children diagnosed with developmental disabilities other than autism.
Specifically, ABA behavior management techniques have been proven effective in reducing inappropriate behaviors and increasing appropriate behaviors among typically developing children and children with other diagnoses.
Myth 2:
ABA is only for low functioning children.
ABA strategies are used to teach skills in low functioning or younger kids very well but It has also been effectively used to address academic delays as well as behavior problems across all functioning levels.
ABA is used to teach higher functioning children skills such as reciprocal conversation, commenting to peers, perspective taking, and play skills. ABA is also effective in modifying the academic curriculum by teaching small steps through discrete trials.
Myth 3:
ABA only uses aversive techniques for behaviors.
There are set positive behavior developing Behavior modification techniques which are effective making aversive techniques less obligatory most of the time.
Techniques are selected after measuring and justifying risk and benefit ratio.All required consents from parents/ gaurdian before employing punishment procedure is mandatory and never underestimated.
Myth 4:
ABA is robotic and teaches only one way to respond.
ABA strategies are employed to train kids in all the skills which they are not learned by self during naturally occurring opportunities.
When taught initially yes the uniformity is maintained in instructions as well as expected responses.Once children achieve skill to respond in fixed way, variation in both instructions as well as responses is the key of training to target generalisation across stimuli, people, and settings is systematically.
Myth 5:
ABA only addresses behavior issues and fails to address cognitive, emotional, learning and social issues.
ABA not only addresses behavior concerns, but also recognises the need to address all types of issues a child may face. Programs are implemented to build cognitive skills, teach emotional recognition, and social skills, along with many other skills needed to function in daily living.
Myth 6:
ABA is only sitting at a table running drills.
ABA therapists do run some programs while sitting on a table with the child. However many programs are also run while sitting on the floor and being around in the room with the child.
Manier times training sessions are conducted at places like house,Schools, parks etc.
Myth 7:
ABA is a subject which is taught in all the psychological ,Speech and physical training courses , it is good enough to train kids using these principles.
Absolutely No.
It's a science which is lengthy and extensive to learn as well as practice.
ABA professionals under go intensive training program inclusive of theory as well as practicum. They undergo years of training and pass " The Big Exam" to call themselves as ABA Consultants to practice their skills independently.
They are also obliged to take certain hours of Continuous Education Units to keep themselves updated with all new researches and work in field which others wouldn't
Everyone can use ABA principles but under mentoring of those who are certified from Behavior Analyst Certification Board(BACB-USA).
Myth 8:
Behavior Therapy , ABA , Behavior Modification Therapy all are different ?
No,they all are same and use ABA principles in their training.
None other countries than USA has the board to Certify candidates as Behavior Therapist / ABA Therapist.
Person to be called as Behavior / ABA Therapist ,they need to be certified from BACB or should be working under supervision of BCBA only.
Behavior Therapy is another name for ABA Therapist. Usually professionals with some knowledge in behaviour science with no official credentials in Same still decides to use behaviour principles in their practice without any guidance and mentoring ,they call themselves Behavior Therapist.
None of the mentioned area of training be it sensory Integration , motor coordination, speech and language or academics can be ignored as per age and priority.
Rather all these mentioned areas and skills under them should be part of one Intervention plan to make Intervention program wholesome , concrete and practical to follow as well as replicate consistently to achieve targeted goals efficiently.
One need a therapy center where ABA professionals are part of intervention team and gets involved in training for it to be effective.
ABA does beautiful work in embiding all the therapies together using most scientific and researched approach to make whole intervention program effective and result driven.
Learn about : - Qualification/ Credentials of the Therapist for science they practice. - Additional Learning Certifications - Approach they Believe in - Training Protocols they Follow - Intervention Plan on Paper - Data & Documentation System - Evaluation System - Communication System - Team
When we are progressing on our penned down plan and slowly trying to match skills with the expectations of child's age. Training should try to cover the lag between age and functionality of the child to be called as appropriate. *Enthusiasm
Learning and attending school are two different goals!
Though when most age appropriate skills are achieved they can be trained to be adjusted well in mainstream classroom.
When the lag between age ,grade, expectations of the school and functional skill is major ! attending school and learning in group as well as sitting in classroom may get difficult. Many times whether child will be adjusted in school or no depends on support that school management and staff provides. Though irrespective of support from the school , learning can certainly be targeted to make it happen !
4-6 hours of therapy everyday is essential.
Having very few ABA therapist in India. We divide theraputic hours into intensive skill development hours and Support work from which we recommend minimum 1.5 hours of intensive therapy and 6 - 8 hours of additional support work.
Intensive therapy is conducted at the center from ABA trained therapist while parents / care takers / Shadows are trained to carry out support at home and other interactive settings.
Absolutely yes.
All parents have to be therapist for their kids. Though they can implement intervention effectively,whether they would do it or no is questionable!
Parents have many other roles to play other than being therapist which makes them exhausted and overwhelmed.
Certainly parents are worried about their future,many times they are yet into the guilt or in Denial mode.
Once training is given by therapist , soon the progress begins to be noticeable which itself becomes motivating to parents to think rationally without going into the trap of their own anxieties. Parental anxiety and Expectations hinders the consistency and efficacy of the training, making process lengthy and delayed most of the time.
Parents can certainly do training once they make up their mind but only under guidance and supervision of trainined professionals.
"Reading and Seeing videos are not enough,Trial and Error kills important years of children's life making development delayed"
We are ABA service provider since 2016.
Founder of HurshBin ,Ms.Binal Shah has graduation and Post graduation degrees in education and psychology.She has learned Oral Placement Therapy till level 2 and is credited with BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) from BACB- USA.
Our team of Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapists , Educators,Sports trainers,extensively study and apply ABA principles in their training procedures to make them effective and result oriented.
OT and ABA Science are different however their goals from children overlap so rather than practicing in isolation they need to be combined in one therapeutic protocol for parents and professionals to take up their roles in intervention.
Assessment --Plan--Intervention
Individual's Training
Parent's Training
Teacher's Training
Shadow's Training
Our skill development program includes assessment and intervention in following 9 areas for 60+ skills through 900+ planned tasks.
Attention and Cooperation
Sensory Integration and Motor Coordination
Speech Language and Communication
Play and Lesiure
Social Interaction and Group Behavior
Activities of Functional Living
Academic Readiness
Emotional Regulation
Vocational Independence
Caretaker's Training
Training locations?