Q

Is ABA Therapy Effective?

It’s inaccurate to say that ABA is universally effective as a therapeutic treatment for everyone. No two children are alike, and ABA aims to provide individualized outcomes. The facts are that ABA leverages evidence-based interventions that demonstrate high effectiveness with reducing challenging behaviors and increasing desired skillsets.

A

Answered by

Encore Support Staff

To truly understand what makes ABA effective, it’s important to know the key characteristics of what makes treatment successful. These are aspects you can observe and influence in your child’s therapy, putting the power of ABA’s effectiveness in your hands.

1. Proper Placement of Services. 

Your healthcare provider (such as a psychologist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, or diagnostician) will determine if ABA is appropriate for treating your child’s diagnosis specific symptoms. If you haven’t received a referral for ABA services yet, speak to your child’s primary care physician about whether ABA therapy might be a good fit. Getting referred to the right care sources is the first step in achieving effective outcomes.

2. Identification of meaningful goals. 

Working with your BCBA to set meaningful long- and short-term goals is crucial for promoting clinical progress. By focusing on skills that are important in your child’s daily life, we increase the likelihood of promoting independence and achieving meaningful behavioral changes.

3. Teaching Functional Alternatives. 

Your BCBA is responsible for identifying functional replacement behaviors. They will conduct a combination of interviews, observations, and assessments to understand the purpose of challenging behaviors before suggesting an appropriate alternative response. ABA doesn’t aim to change your child’s personality, instead we want to equip them with the skillsets to express their desires and needs in an effective and socially appropriate way. 

4. Showing up for sessions.

Your BCBA prescribes ABA service hours based on their clinical assessment. The number of hours depends on your child’s goals and the level of support needed to achieve them. It’s the responsibility of the entire team, including you and your child, to ensure consistent attendance at scheduled sessions to work towards these goals.

This is similar to a doctor prescribing medication. Just as skipping doses can lead to persistent or worsening symptoms, inconsistent therapy attendance may slow progress.

4. Practice makes progress.

Consistent attendance should be paired with regular implementation of teaching strategies and practice opportunities. Providing plenty of opportunities for your child to practice new skills, both during and outside therapy sessions, helps strengthen their abilities.

As a parent, incorporating therapy techniques into your daily routines can reinforce desired behaviors and extend the benefits of ABA beyond the therapy sessions.

6. Parent Participation. 

ABA therapy begins with the child and therapist, but its true effectiveness requires parental involvement. That is, parents’ willingness to adopt the strategies, create learning opportunities, and provide appropriate reinforcement. 

This is crucial because without consistency across all settings, we often see disproportionate progress in clinical outcomes between therapy sessions and everyday life. Your active participation can make a significant difference in your child’s progress and the overall outcomes.

7. Collaboration. 

Building on the concept of parent participation, ABA therapists collaborate with everyone involved in your child’s care. This ensures consistent results across all environments your child interacts with, including schools, other service providers, and family members.

Collaboration is especially crucial for children taking medications for co-occurring conditions. Potential side effects may impact therapy engagement and overall progress, making a coordinated approach even more important.

8. Generalization.

Generalization is an integral part of ABA treatment, typically implemented after a patient has successfully demonstrated a skill during intervention. However, it’s beneficial to practice newly learned skills in various natural settings with other important people even before the skill is fully mastered.

Parents can apply therapy strategies in daily life, promoting faster skill acquisition and learning across different environments.
Monitoring these eight key aspects will help you play an active role in maximizing the effectiveness of your child’s ABA therapy.  Regular check-ins with your ABA provider can help you track progress and ensure that your child is receiving the most benefit from their treatment throughout their therapeutic journey.

How Do We Stand Out? 

At Encore, we’re committed to providing a compassionate and meaningful ABA therapy experience. Our expert team creates a personalized therapeutic environment focused on achieving real, positive outcomes for your child. We blend our deep expertise with a caring approach, ensuring each session is both effective and engaging. By working closely with you, we create a supportive partnership that extends beyond the therapy room, driving meaningful progress in your child’s development. With Encore, you can feel confident that your child is receiving high-quality care tailored to their unique needs. 

Have more questions or want to learn more about how Encore can help your child thrive with ABA therapy? Schedule a complimentary consultation today.