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RE ABA Therapy -Any reason i should NOT use Lovaas method?

10 replies

mamadadawahwah · 21/09/2005 21:46

Arggh there are so many choices. I would really REALLY like to know what parents' take are on the Lovaas method as opposed to verbal therapy or even RDI. I hope to incorporate a whole range of methods but start with Lovaas.

CAn you tell me people what your experiences are and/or what the benefits have been of using Lovaas vs other methods? Do you find it confining or restricted in terms of teaching social skills?

Please let me know because i am about to embark on a very expensive and time consuming home therapy program for my toddler son.

thanks all

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RnB · 22/09/2005 08:48

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mamadadawahwah · 22/09/2005 09:49

Rnb, i dont need much convincing. My son is still very young and he needs some basics to get a running jump at things. The organisation i want to go with want 2 and 3 people in my house every day. At £10.00 per hour each, i simply wont be able to afford that for long. I really want to make the right decision and have serious "reservations" about lovaas. I dont want it for my son but i want something and that is all that exists here right now. I will just have to be forceful and put my foot down if i dont like what i am seeing.

IN your experience were therapists accommodating to you and your parental suggestions? I wont be dicated to, and i dont care how many degrees a therapist has. Is there a certain "way" these programs work? Do they use the excuse of having to comply to the letter, or "it wont work"? Cause i dont buy that. we are talking about a human being here, as diverse as the universe.

No, i am not going to remortgage the house for this. There has to be a better way, but i will start out with aba and see how it goes. I have the RDI video on order. I have spoken to their development coordinator in texas, begging them to come to my town. Its just so hard to convince others that RDI could work. I cant convince them cause i dont know that much about it yet but my instinct tells me its the way to go!!

yes i would love to be able to talk more. How do i contact you. Anyone else with RDI/Lovaas experience i would like to talk to you too. Our kids are too important to not talk to people first and find out the real "scoop".

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mamadadawahwah · 22/09/2005 09:51

I just want to learn aba and then do it myself really. Why should i hire university students at the age of 22 when i am years older and educated myself. I am a sahm, so i have the time. Is this money making on the part of home program providers or what? Why dont they train the parents up. I dont want students in my house day and night. I want to be the one who does the training!

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RnB · 22/09/2005 14:16

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Socci · 22/09/2005 15:43

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mamadadawahwah · 22/09/2005 17:12

I was just rethinking how i am going to pay for this program and am glad it is not me that has to wrestle with my conscience, charging the outrageous fees they charge. If the therapists reduced the fees, maybe their client base would enlarge and they would make even more money. Its just scandalous. If you are poor, forget about being able to help your child with one of these programs. It just isnt going to happen.

very sad and depressing.

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Socci · 22/09/2005 17:49

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Socci · 22/09/2005 17:55

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heartinthecountry · 22/09/2005 20:14

mamadada... there is nothing to stop you becoming a tutor if you want to. As socci says, there are definitely advantages to this. But as a mum who has ended up tutoring about 80% of dd's program I will say it also has its disadvantages.

it is hard work and there are days when I am exhausted and the thought of doing it is draining - I am sure I do not get the best out of dd on those days.
dd does respond differently to me than other tutors. Actually she does more stuff for me. Which is great in some ways. But she needs to be able to generalise her skills. There is little benefit in only being able to 'perform' if it is only ever with me.
I am sure that my emotional investment in how well she does can negatively affect how well the sesstions run at times. I am sure it puts added pressure on which would not be there to the same extent with an external tutor.

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mamadadawahwah · 22/09/2005 20:54

Good point heart! I suppose i could enlist the services of one tutor. The program director said i might need three. At £10.00 per hour each per day, that is just way beyond my bank balance.
thank you for your advice though on the perils of doing it on your own. Mind you i really dont have much option in the long run unless i win the lotto.