| For any parent whose child has been diagnosed with | | | | ASD as well as the entire family. |
| an ASD or autism spectrum disorder, the diagnosis | | | | ABA therapy works by providing structures lessons |
| can be gut wrenching. Instantly a number of images | | | | designed to teach real life skills such as manners and |
| come to mind of introverted children with few social | | | | how to behave in environments ranging from the |
| skills and a devastating lack of quality of life. For many | | | | classroom and grocery store. This also includes |
| parents, there is a fear of never being able to | | | | lessons designed to encourage positive behavior, |
| communicate with your child or to know that they can | | | | which provides an effective means of stopping |
| understand you. This is where ABA or Applied | | | | self-injurious and negative behavior. ABA therapy |
| Behavior Analysis comes in. | | | | often involves intensive but brief sessions of asking |
| Applied Behavior Analysis is an intensive treatment | | | | questions and teaching answers flowed by meticulous |
| method that has been in practice for over fifty years | | | | data recording. Other activities include play activities |
| with unprecedented success in helping children with | | | | such as learning to dance or skip, and the sessions are |
| ASD learn new behaviors and thinking patterns. ASD | | | | usually fun enough that a child will enjoy ABA therapy |
| is research proven and has long been recognized as | | | | once he or she is past the initial shock of having their |
| the treatment of choice for children with autistic | | | | normal routine interrupted. It is crucial for parents to |
| behavior. While it is not the miracle answer and | | | | understand that resistance to change is part of ASD |
| involves a great deal of time and work, ABA therapy | | | | and is to be expected, but that it will pass. |
| can truly make a lifelong difference for a child with | | | | |