Autism treatment

Treatment for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder involves a careful and therapeutic approach to skill development and problem behavior reduction. Treatment begins with an assessment of the child’s needs, behaviors, skills and learning style, then concrete goals and strategies are developed with the family. Next, there is direct one-on-one teaching of skills for the child and/or for the parents, and measured tracking of progress.

Which strategies are used in treatment?

Every child, with or without ASD, is different and requires treatment individualization. After determining the areas of concern for the child and the family, a behavior analyst develops an approach accordingly. Children with autism typically have communication deficits, and working on ways to help families communicate effectively with their child would be a high priority. Parents are taught to implement systems for teaching the child to communicate independently–whether with words, or with a picture exchange system or an electronic device. If the child engages in problem behaviors as his/her way to communicate, then a behavior analyst works to decrease those while increasing appropriate alternative behaviors. Families learn how to anticipate and decrease these behaviors, as well as how to manage them when they do occur.

Other goals in ABA treatment may include:

  • functional play skills
  • social skills
  • waiting, delaying gratification, accepting “no”
  • increasing food varieties/tolerance
  • improving self-care skills
  • engaging in successful community outings.

What if my child has multiple diagnoses?

Behavior therapy does not have to be diagnosis driven. Treatment goals are informed by specific, observable, and measurable behavior, as opposed to by diagnosis. In other words, the label doesn’t matter!

If you, the parent, has shared that your child will not sit for haircuts and engages in aggression and tantrums when approaching the barber shop, then haircutting becomes a treatment goal. Procedures for increasing compliance and success with haircutting would then be developed based on your child’s developmental skill levels, rather than based on his diagnosis.