ABA starting age?

[Southernhippie]

I just was wondering what age those of you doing ABA started? What age would you have ideally started?

DS is only 18 months and not got a diagnosis of Autism but that is the path we are going down. The professionals he has seen are pretty much saying the same thing but been get cautious because he is "still young". He gets Portage once a week at the moment and we work on one target a week.

I have a reference point of a 9 year old starting with amazing results but he still has severe needs and his mum wishes she could have started younger.

I am going to speak with a couple of ABA places too.

Great stuff. Sounds like your DS has done really well. I thought organisations might think it too young but clearly not.

Is ABA a relatively new thing, or been around a while?

How costly can it be and how long do you do it for? A set amount of time, or when you (the parents) or the tutors feel you've done all you can with it?

It's been around a long time. I think the original research was 1980's. I first saw a child on a programme in 1990's

Optimum programmes are 39 hours per week of 1:1 with supervision coats on top. So yes very costly.

*supervision costs

It is not a short term thing, usually years.

As early as you possibly can.
I recently started my son at 27 months and I really wish I had started earlier but I didn't know then what I know now.

Mjmoose, at your sons age 20 hours a week would be fine, you will still see improvements. The ideal is 40 hours but most people can't afford that.

If you can manage the upfront costs and build up evidence you may be able to get LA funding but most people have to go to tribunal to do this.

Good luck x

dd started at age 3. I would definitely start earlier if you can. Don't worry if you cant do 40 hours; anything you do will have an impact.

We started 3.10 I wish I started at 2 or when I suspected it was more than a speech delay (2.5 years).
My daughter used to babble and speak in jargon so much so that we nick named her Pingu, I definitely know she would've made better gains If I started earlier.

Should any of my future kids have delays, I will start a programme as early as possible.

Good luck :)