ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis is the recommended child behavior therapy of children with autism. The basic concept of ABA is simple; it is based on the age-old reward and consequence approach. Do what you are told and you get a reward, don’t do what you’re told and you do not get the reward. As time goes by the child begins to associate good behavior with a reward. Over an extended period of time the reward becomes unnecessary as the good behavior continues.
The parents of autistic children may witness an approach to child behavior therapy called “discrete trials.” A therapist and the child with autism will sit across a table from each other, the therapist will ask for a behavior; this could be “give me the spoon.” If the child gives the therapist the spoon the child will be rewarded, usually with a bit of food. The therapist then asks for another behavior, this goes on 40 hours a week.
When the therapy is this intense, it is also reasonably short; it may only be for a few weeks. It has been found that intense therapy such as discrete trials is less than ideal. Professionals who deal with child behavior therapy say that a child must have fun to learn. The therapy should not just be held across a table, it should be held in environments which are conducive to fun; parks, playgrounds, etc. As a parent, if you see that your child begins to dread therapy, then it is time to step in and intervene.
What tests did the therapist use?
Parents are requested to ask the therapist what tests were conducted to determine what the child knows and does not know. Without this basic knowledge, it is impossible to teach the child. A recognized tool that is used in child behavior therapy is the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills, ABLLS. Once this test has been conducted the therapist can develop and design the right program for the child.
Without this test and assessment the therapist can easily pick the wrong activities based on the therapist expectations all based on the child’s age. When age alone is used as the criteria for learning, the therapist may be working on color separation when the child has not yet conquered concrete object identification.
