- What kind of progress can I expect?
The amount of progress that your child will make depends on a number of things: cognitive ability, the quality of their program, official ABA hours per week, family involvement (i.e. generalizing concepts within a program), age at which the intervention is started and collaboration with other professionals and services. - What about diet, vitamins, and other therapies?
Different forms of therapies include behavioural and communication approaches, dietary approaches, medication, and complementary and alternative medicine.
It is important to remember that some children respond well to one type of treatment while others have little or no response to the same treatment. Additionally, before deciding on a treatment program it is important to consult with your health care professional about the associated risks and benefits. - Is ABA a suitable treatment option for my child?
Research conducted over the past 40 years suggests that Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is the most effective treatment methodology for a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Scientific research conducted on ABA significantly outnumbers research conducted on any other treatment options for children with an ASD.
ABA Programs are designed specifically to meet the individual’s needs and is appropriate for children across the autism spectrum (mild features to severe features).
While an ABA program is individualised, a typical ABA program may cover speech drills such as fluency and oral motor, social skills, imaginative play, gross motor, fine motor, life skills, cognitive skills and may address any behavioural issues.
ABA is data driven and the collection and analysis of generated data is continuous. This process guides the programme’s direction and generates concrete data that can be measured and used to chart the child’s progress. - How long does an ABA program last?
There are many factors in determining how long an ABA program will run, including the child’s potential cognitive ability, ABA contact hours and many more variables. Some children acquire information quickly and move through a program at a steady rate. Others may progress much slower and may even require some form of ABA program and support into their schooling years and beyond. Once an ABA program has been running for some time, we are in a better position to judge the rate at which your child will progress and determine roughly how long the program may run be needed and effective. - How does ABA impact on family life?
An ABA program can place a strain on finances and time. However, at Helping Hands we always stress that the effect of not intervening usually far out ways the demands of running an ABA program. ABA works to give back some normality to family life. - Why is Early Intervention important?
Very little is known about what causes ASD. What scientific research has told us however, is that intensive early intervention (defined as intervention for children from infancy to 5 years old) can have a profound affect on the quality of life and reduces the symptoms of ASD’s. Additionally studies indicate that early intervention is successful because younger brains are more flexible.
It is important to note that while early intervention is defined as therapy from ages 0 to 5 years old, research suggests ABA has a positive effect on children of all ages. - Is there a cure for autism?
There is no “cure” for autism. We are however continuously developing and growing in our understanding and awareness of autism. This better understanding has enabled us to help people cope with their autism and associated symptoms. Some associated behavioural issues and/or stims can lessen as the child ages, while others may disappear altogether. While the majority of children and adults will continue to display characteristics of autism to some degree throughout their lives, with the right intervention behaviours can be positively changed.
