has anyone tried behavioral therapy for their autistic child ?

Monica - posted on 09/03/2012

Hello I am a Board certified behavior therapist and clinical director of an amazing company crystal minds new beginning. Crystal Minds New Beginning uses an Integrational approach to therapy. It combines fragments and pieces of Occupational therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, physical therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). We also use VB-MAPP, developed by B.F.Skinner, which is a verbal approach to behavior analysis. All of our programs have a verbal component to it whether it is ASL (sign language training), PECS (Picture communication exchange System) and other forms of verbal behaviors, including further development of Tacts, Mands and intra-verbals. We also understand that apart from speech and behavior, academic enhancements help individuals develop healthy self-esteems and prepare them for the later years of their lives therefore we also offer academic enhancements and tutoring programs to get your child on track!

For any questions please visit www.cmnbtherapy.com or email us at info@cmnbtherapy.com

Connie - posted on 07/07/2010

Please clarify - so ABA - the word Behavior, does NOT address behavior? How misleading? So what does address autism spectrum behavior management? I'm really appreciating the autism topic in Circle of Moms! Keep writing and sharing. Thanks

Jerri - posted on 07/05/2010

You have to find the right one for your son.. We went through 5 before we found the right one.. It helps like you cant believe. They aren't there just for your child but for you family too. They will help you find ways to correct the problems your having and teach your family how to work with him too. I'm a mother of 5 with 2 boys on the autism spectrum. Good luck to you and your family ! ! !

Connie - posted on 07/04/2010

Our daughter, in the process of having an autism spectrum diagnosis is 22 years old; and yes her behaviors are testing our abilities and patience. Help is right!

Diane - posted on 05/22/2010

Our son had an intensive 1-on-1 ABA program for several years until he was able to mainstream into a public education setting. However, his approach was multi-faceted in that ABA was only part of the intervention plan. Diet and biomedical support under the care of his DAN Doctor (Defeat Autism Now) were also key in his intervention plan. The three main approaches worked together to help him get where he is today (on his way to start Middle School in the Fall). For instance, he was unable to sit and attend in his home program until we removed foods that he had sensitivity to (dairy and wheat/gluten). The doctor addressed vitatmin deficiencies, yeast and bacterial overgrowth, other food allergies, etc.

I liken the approach to that of a thee-legged stool. A balanced approach, all working together to keep the "stool" in place.

Karen - posted on 05/18/2010

Josh is an Aspie and and after behavior he stopped attacking anyone laughing in his area (he though everyone was always laughing at him because of bullying) and since the second grade started LOOKING at the camara when he got his picture taken without any trouble!!

Wendy - posted on 05/18/2010

ABA is about teaching learning skills about ADL's. (activities of daily living), not necessarliy behavior itself. Repetion and reward systems helped my son with certain behaviors. Hope this helps, ABA, it is intense but soooo worth it!

Geralyn - posted on 05/17/2010

Actually behavioral therapies like ABA do not just address behaviors. It is for learning skills whether the skills be academic, social, communication, self help, etc... These skills are taught in the context of a behavioral program, but ABA addresses all areas of development. And it is done quite intensively depending on the needs of the child.

Lureen - posted on 05/17/2010

I am having the same trouble. I want my 15 yr old son to have behavioral therapy and the school wants to drug him and keeps saying that we are in denial

Connie - posted on 05/17/2010

Me too! We are getting a very late start on behavior management with our 21 yr old; we didn't learn anything about the autism world until the past 6 months. What a whole new world that makes sense to us but so much to learn now on helping improve her behavior; the mood swings are tremendous and she reacts negatively whenever she doesn't get what she wants immediately! Her emotional age is way behind her chronological age.) Help for suggestions in the Denver west side area?

Amber - posted on 05/17/2010

we are starting behavioral this week

Desire - posted on 05/15/2010

My 10 yr son has ASD-PDD-NOS and also Severe ADHD
He has 2 therepists...I would highly suggest Behavioral therepy it does wonders as well as play therepists...you would need to find one who specializes working with special needs children...but the benefits are wonderful...

Irene - posted on 05/15/2010

A behaviorist can help you see the reasons for his behaviors then help you make a plan to extinguish them. As one mom said, its hard to watch your children suffer through a change, but when they make it its wonderful! By the way - it doesn't work for everyone . I have one son it worked spectacularly on and one who is much slower to grow from it. But they both have grown. This is the one therapy that is research based. if you can, get it! It can't hurt (except finacially!)

Pamela - posted on 05/14/2010

Hi! My son is now seventeen years old and I did incorporate behavior therapy in his occupational therapy. If your son is receiving any other therapies (i.e., speech, occupational, or physcial) I suggest you speak to the therapist(s) and ascertain whether it is possible that they address some of his behaviors in their interventions with him. Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 05/12/2010

Since your son is in a special PreK program, he is probably using the Lovaas method already. Ask to have an informal meeting with his teachers and let them know what you need help with at home (and over the summer if he has time off). Our PreK uses the Verbal Behavior approach to ABA (Carbone), which is newer approach you may also want to look into. It focuses on getting the child to want to do something on their own accord. Love it!

Renate - posted on 05/12/2010

Hello, the Lovas Method is a form of ABA (Applied behaviour analysis). there are many form of ABA, this is a very structured way of teaching behaviour to children on the Autistic spectrum. It can be successfully if you can find the right team and right type of ABA for you child. my advice is to do some research, type in ABA and see what comes up. Good luck.

Hadeel - posted on 05/06/2010

i never heared of lovas method it sounds great , im gonna search it :) and thank you lisa for bringing my attention to this i appreciate it :))))))))))

Lisa - posted on 05/06/2010

My run in with the behaviour intervention support team (BIST) was a complete waste of time. If you can find someone who will listen to you and is willing to work with you then try it otherwise try using some stratergies such as using the same command. ie: Hands down, or if a certain word is a trigger do Not use the word try other words to get across the same message

Margaret - posted on 05/05/2010

I was a tutor for a autistic child we used the lovas method. starting with things like touch nose- he then touched his nose within 1.5 seconds or we would help him to begin with at the end he was having play therapy. It worked so well. He is now almost a adult and doesn't need any help hasn't since he was about 8 years old.

Hadeel - posted on 05/04/2010

brandi : thank you soo much that made me feel better about this, its diffenately gonna feel weired but i hope i will get the right person,, :) christina : my son is allready in a special needs school and i do see remarkable change in him but to be honest with u its at home is what im struggling with,, i think it would be helpful to have someone show me and my husband how to deal with him specially that my husband is dealing with him as if he was like any other child : like do as i say or u are puneshed which drives my son crazy soooo.. i guess i ll save all of us the troubles and just get behavioral therapy and see how it gose :) thank you very much for ur reply :))

Christina - posted on 05/04/2010

Austin has been attending a behavioral preschool for about 1 1/2 years now... I think that it has done wonders for him, but you have to be careful in these type of settings. Getting them involved w/ others is a really good thing! But...these kids are all there for behavioral reasons. Sometimes, they do great and don't pick up others behaviors and sometimes they do!

They have been a great place for us to start and have done a great job w/ my lil man :) They are through our local county mental health if that helps you any...

Brandie - posted on 05/03/2010

i had behavioral theripy for my son and i would not change it for anything in the world!! not everyone thinks the same but it was a blessing for us. now i will admit that in the very begining it was very hard for me to see the tantrums he was taking and not be able to step in and comfort him... yes in the begining there will be A LOT of tantrums triggerd. and as much as it breaks your heart.. you just have to remember no one has ever died from a tantrum... the theripist may get minor injurys however.. my son slaped his theripist across the face during his first session.. i felt bad for her, she was unfaised by it.. i would say give it a try.. if its not for you, you dont have to continue.. but after the first full week of theripy we started to so see a difference both during theripy and outside of theripy.

also find a theripist that dosent mind you sitting in on as many sessions as you possibly can (as it sit in a corner and not say one word and just observe, never interupt). you learn alot on how to deal with diferent situations in the "real" world. i know of people who have never sat in on a session and say it dosent work.... but for everyone i know that was involved in there childs therepy have had positive results... i guess its kinda the same as if you send your child to school, but never have them do there homework... not the same results..