Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is becoming more and more treatable through various autism therapy programs. This is good news, as screening for ASD improves and more families than ever are facing an ASD diagnosis for their child, leaving these families and caregivers looking for therapy options. Here at Ascend Autism, we embrace Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA and deploy it across all our autism treatment programs. Our approach provides a natural and accessible approach to improving the behaviors of children diagnosed with ASD. ABA uses rewards and positive feedback to reinforce and encourage positive and appropriate behaviors as we teach new skills.
Ascend Autism works one-on-one with children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD addressing all aspects of daily skills including, communication, social skills, personal care, and schoolwork. ABA is a broad science of human behavior and there are a number of treatment models to be aware of as each has its appropriate place in therapy. Learning about these can help parents and caregivers have the best foundation for supporting their child.
Our Autism Therapy Programs
There are different treatment models all within the broad therapy category of ABA. Each type has a particular emphasis allowing therapists, parents, and caregivers to use as needed. These ABA treatment models include:
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT): This breaks a desired behavior into the simplest steps. It uses prompts and rewards at each step or stage, but as the treatment continues, these rewards are phased out.
- Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI): This form of ABA is designed for young children, usually under age five, and is conducted one-on-one. EIBI is usually between 20-40 hours per week of individualized instruction and goes for up to three years.
- Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT): This approach intends to improve a child’s motivation to learn, self-manage, and initiate communication with others. These are the pivotal areas PRT focuses upon rather than broader behavioral issues. The therapy is usually initiated by the child with ASD and is play-based. In PRT, the entire family is encouraged to make lifestyle changes, so the child with ASD experiences consistency across interactions.
- Verbal Behavior (VB): Sometimes called Verbal Behavior Intervention or Verbal Behavior Treatment, VB is concerned with improving communication and verbal skills. When a child is non-vocal, VB works to help them communicate with a clear, distinct purpose rather than merely functionally. Doing so helps children improve their vocalization as they learn to express themselves and get what they want by using language.
Other Autism Treatment Programs
Besides the various forms of ABA therapies, some other programs or approaches have proven effective and are excellent supplements.
Floortime: While most call this approach Floortime, it is synonymous with Developmental and Individual Differences Relationship therapy or DIR. In this form of therapy, parents, caregivers, or therapists engage with the child with ASD through an activity the child enjoys. By engaging and interacting with another, children in DIR learn socialization skills.
Relationship Development Intervention: RDI is an approach that focuses on the entire family to develop more meaningful relationships. It is a means to build and enhance emotional bonds and shared experiences to encourage empathy and the desire to engage with others. It is a step-by-step process that can be taught to parents and caregivers to improve eye contact and communication in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Ascend Autism
Ascend Autism’s expert clinicians are here to help parents and caregivers with the most appropriate treatment model to achieve meaningful outcomes for their loved ones. We have services for treating children of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and we are committed to achieving positive outcomes for every child. For instance, we offer the following:
So reach out to us today at 877.323.8668. Learn how we can help support you in getting your child the treatment they need.
