Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral Therapies are often effective in children with autism. The Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) usually being the most effective. This approach generally involves therapists who work intensely, one-on-one with a child for 20 to 40 hours/week. Children are taught skills in a simple step-by-step manner, The sessions usually begin with formal, structured drills, such as learning to point to a color when its name is given; and then, after some time, there is a shift towards generalizing skills to other situations and environments.

ABA programs are most effective when started early before age of 5, but they can also be helpful to older children. They are especially effective in teaching non-verbal children how to talk.

In the therapy sessions, prompting as much as necessary to achieve a high level of success, with a gradual fading of prompts. The ABA sessions should be fun for the children to maintain their interest and motivation

Therapists of ABA need proper training and ongoing supervision to maintain high credibility in handling children with autism. However, regular team meetings are needed to maintain consistency between therapists and check for problems.

Parents are encouraged to obtain training in ABA, so that they provide it themselves and possibly hire other people to assist. Qualified behavior consultants are often available, and there are often workshops on how to provide ABA therapy.