When to stop ABA or other therapy

[JamMac]

Hi
Here's a question: When do know when to stop ABA therapy because your child will be able to progress outside of a systematic program??

Our son is much improved as a result of his ABA programme and his mainstream school is questioning the need for his ABA shadow. Part of me wants to terminate his ABA and his speech therapy as it seems unnecessary but, on the other hand, I don't want to throw in the towel if it's soon. The ABA folks think we should keep going; the school says no; and I'm not sure. Has anyone out there called it a day on their ABA programme or other therapy because they thought, in effect, they were "finished" ?? How did you know???
Thanks for any insights.

[bialystockandbloom]

Hmm I don't know yet as we're still doing ours, and probably will continue for another couple of years.

But I think though, that it's one of those things that when you know, you know (iykwim)

I think you'd know if ds was no longer learning from aba in itself.

Tbh if you don't feel that it's time to finish, it probably isn't. Easier for the school to say, as they don't really know what he'd be like without the shadow there.

Also I'd probably bow to the experience of your tutors. They know better than the school.

Plus it would be better to continue with it even if unnecessary, than stop it too early and your ds's progress/wellbeing/behaviour is hindered as a result.

[sleepyhorse]

Hi JamMac thats sounds very encouraging re ABA, its just what I needed to hear as we are about to start the programme. Do you mind me asking what your son's difficulties were at the age of 3? Could he put sentances together?

[JamMac]

Hi Thank you everyone for your input. It's very helpful. (PipinJo -- thanks for being out there; was hoping you to hear from you as you have been on many discussions since we have started our ABA journey!)

Sleepyhorse- our son at 3: he had not started ABA ; he could not put ANY sentence together and could just manage to put 2 words together; he did not make eye contact; would not respond to his name (had to say his name and tap on his chest to get any response); did not know how to play with toys; was very obsessional, etc. In short, ABA changed his life! He did have a strong visual IQ (unknown at the time) and I think the ABA team was very good at leveraging that to teach him other skils (e.g., using his ability to read to teach him to speak and follow instructions). With ABA and persistence so much is possible!

[sleepyhorse]

Thanks JamMac...so encouraging to hear you have had such a great success story. xx

[moondog]

Look at your data.
That will tell you the story of where he was and where he has got to.