ABA for Aspergers?

[Pawan]

Our DS2, age 6, recently (finally!) got a dx of Aspergers. We are just looking into what could help, especially with social skills.

Have other parents used ABA for Aspergers/HFA children to address social skills? If so, has it been helpful?

And how many hours per week would you do on ABA with an Aspergers child?

DS2 is in full time school, no statement, just one hour of ELSA a week, plus his own learning table in a quiet corner of the classroom (and he has an IEP).

We are just investigating what we can do to help him, and social skills plus sensory issues are the two biggest challenges at the moment.

Yes!

We have two Aspies and have tried ABA in a couple of forms. One to one seemed to work for some things as long as they set it at a high enough level - we had a consultant who obviously thought they were at a much lower level than they were and - for instance - got my rather bemused (at the time) 7 year old to go over and over again whether something was fact or opinion - despite his getting it right every single time without fail. So don't believe everything the consultants tell you, they are not gods!

Some of the stuff was actually very useful - like the games where they had to take turns to find something or getting someone else to find something using non-verbal communication like nodding and shaking heads (they had to actually look at the other person to gauge reaction).

We also sent them to a small group ABA session which was a disaster. There were supposed to be 2 NT kids (there weren't) and 4 ASD kids. One of the other ASD kids was much older and much lower functioning and the other kids would copy his behaviour.

We have actually given up with all forms of behavioural coaching now and concentrate on having as many playdates as we can, which usually works out very well as they are learning how much the other kids tolerate. And they have friends!

Thanks, that's really helpful to know - we had been along to a Peach information day, and although they said (when I asked at the end of the presentation) that it was suitable for Aspies, all the other parents there had children with classic autism, and all the examples they gave were for children with classic autism - so the things that our DS2 can already do and is not difficult for him (identifying colours, asking for a drink, pronouns etc and that kind of thing)

... whereas I think we need to really focus on the social side with him - how to start and continue a conversation, what is an appropriate reply, how not to offend people by being too blunt with the truth, how to join in a game, what to do in the playground at school, and so on.

Some of that can be covered with ABA, I've heard some success from other parents of children with AS, but if it's not fun they switch off and I think sometimes it's very prescriptive.

I also got very tired of the fact that they would come back from school, have a structured 2-3 hours with a tutor three times a week and then have a load of computer time (their chosen motivator). It meant they had no time for childhood things like clubs and play dates which they could also learn from.

If I had the time again I'd maybe do one day with a very carefully targeted 2 hours with a tutor, then try to repeat that again for very short periods of time over the week myself in a number of different situations.

My DS went to a social-skills group for children with Asperger’s/HFA in mainstream schools, run by SALTs. Sometimes an OT was involved as well who got them to do more physical activities. There were games to encourage basics like turn-taking, and activities like sharing “news” so they’d understand how much to say and how to listen and comment on each other’s news; also a lot of focus on reflection by the kids themselves especially as they got older. And the therapists reacted and adapted to whatever happened during the session, for example they spent a lot of time in one session on the difference between “I don’t need any help thank you” and “LEAVE ME ALONE!!!”

So it might also be worth looking for a group led by a SALT rather than PEACH or ABA as such?

From age 6 onwards my DS went to a social-skills group for children with Asperger’s/HFA in mainstream schools (so mostly verbal and quite able), run by Speech and Language therapists. Sometimes an OT was involved as well who got them to do more physical activities. There were games to encourage basics like turn-taking, and activities like sharing “news” so they’d understand how much to say and how to listen and comment on each other’s news; also a lot of focus on reflection by the kids themselves especially as they got older. And the therapists reacted and adapted to whatever happened during the session, for example they spent a lot of time in one session on the difference between “I don’t need any help thank you” and “LEAVE ME ALONE!!!”

So it might also be worth looking for a group led by a SALT rather than PEACH or ABA as such?

PS sorry for multiple posts, something funny tonight!

juststimming.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/quiet-hands/ is a good and very well known article, and one to read for parents trying to find a service to assist their autistic child..but who would like to take in a wide range of opinions before deciding. It does have a swear word in it, so please be advised of that. It only represents one sort of ABA that is practised. As with all things, there are good and bad practitioners in the world of ABA. The good ones don't see us as broken versions of real people. They don't train us to withstand breathtaking sensory pain and social overload pain in silence and stillness and call that 'success'. And their organisations don't tell parents that their child will suffer if they leave the very-expensive-service. They are aware that autism is not a behavioural condition; it's a brain design difference bringing strengths as well as differences in most cases. They work with us to enable us to lead rewarding, fulfilling lives. That's different to training us to comply with an adult's wishes at all costs. Read lots more by autistic young people and autistic adults about their experiences of ABA and similar things. Then make your own wise decisions about finding the right person to bring out the best in your lovely young person. If that's a good ABA person, great. But be aware of the concerns that some of us have about any bad forms of intensive training, designed to make us look as though we're not autistic...and the immense strain it can place some young people under to comply at all costs. Compliance at all costs and embarrassment at being seen to be autistic aren't good life skills. And many of us lead those rewarding, fulfilling lives without having gone anywhere near ABA. PS I worked for an ABA organisation for some time and still work with them, so I'm not talking out of ignorance or malice, just out of the need for balance and care...and I'm autistic, and I've brought up a fab young man with autism. (And am a national adviser on it, though not here much these days) So, in summary, if you want to choose ABA, choose a bloomin' good person.