When Participating In ABA San Francisco Children Develop Learning Skills

By Stefanie Knox


Autism spectrum disorder and other learning disabilities are remarkably responsive to recently developed teaching methods. When using the tools of ABA San Francisco therapists use a scientifically developed method to modify behavior. Applied behavioral analysis is a generic tool that includes many different techniques such as Discrete Trial Teaching. However many misconstrue the field to include only DTT.

ABA is based on the idea that consequences and responses can promote certain actions. Educational and psychological methods are used to teach autistic children to function in healthier ways. The end aim is to help them learn social skills and improve their academic development using reinforcement. Having fun while learning is an imperative part of retaining information since children learn more efficiently when teaching methods are enjoyable.

Some programs focus on improving language, playing and social skills whilst simultaneously trying to reduce the behaviors that get in the way of learning. Autism patients often repeat unhealthy behaviors that are self-injurious, and applied behavioral analysis is effective at omitting those actions.

One of the oldest forms of applied behavioral analysis is DTT. It originated in the 1970s, and its founders were UCLA therapists who studied learning theories. They discovered that rewarding children with autism for their positive behaviors made them more likely to repeat those actions. Praise and incentives are used.

Trials conducted on ABA methods have shown profoundly positive results. In an Eighties study, almost 50% of the children treated developed normal learning functioning within their first year of school. Therapy needed to be extensive, as participants who were given 10 hours of weekly therapy did not replicate these results.

There are many therapists who think that applied behavioral analysis techniques should be offered to all children with autism as a standard care technique because of how reliably it produces results. There are also therapists who believe the technique to be too rigid. However, this is generally an opinion based on early DTT rather than modern techniques.

Therapy is usually conducted on a daily basis through intensive one on one sessions between the therapist and child. During sessions, communication, learning and social interactions are promoted. Treatment is adapted to each individual child so that unique behaviors are targeted directly. This way, specific problems that are individualized can be combated.

The input of family members plays a pinnacle role in treatment. Parents participate by offering information about behavioral changes between sessions. Therapy becomes more developed and specialized in time. Niche skills are eventually given more focus so that children learn expression, mathematics and language skills. The focus of therapy is to reduce negative actions and increase healthy ones.

Reinforcement is the most important part of learning. Consequences are positive or negative, depending on the behavior that has been displayed. Some techniques attempt to modify actions before they happen.

Children who have autism aren't as socially motivated as others, which results in non-compliance, heated tempers and inattentiveness. Sessions focus on trying to increase social motivation so that actions are modified at their foundation. Usually, treatment begins before children turn six, and 40 hours of weekly sessions are provided. When making use of ABA San Francisco families are actively involved in therapy.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment