ABA

[LovelyMamaof2]

Hi everyone.
My 4 and a half year old son has been diagnosed with Autism. He is high functioning and has mild behaviour and speech issues. His negative behaviours include jumping and tumbling with no sense that he may hurt himself or others and he does hurt his 7 year old sister by jumping on her constantly and kicking her for long periods. He is verbal and has a lot of words and little sentences but his speech is not enough for his independency and he lacks a lot of skills to make him independent (doesn't feed himself).
I am confused about ABA. I have read and researched hours and believe it may be a good approach to help my son. As time has gone by I believe ABA has improved a lot more in that it is child friendly. But yet I am scared that I do not want to harm my child in any way like his confidence.
We live in the UK but may be travelling to Pakistan for ABA.
I am wanting to know actual parents experiences with ABA, what exactly does the therapist do with the child? And how it has helped their child? Has it harmed your child? Thank you

@LovelyMamaof2 It is entirely up to you and your family, what you think will work best. ABA is a wide term, which different people use to mean different things. It isn't like saying "nurse", which would mean registered and trained in basically the same skills in most countries. I tend to think that it is expensive and I worked with my son myself, using Montessori principles. But if you think that it could work for your son, go for it! Make sure you get to watch the session so you know what happens and how effective it is.

Try checking out VB Mapp (a much more modern form of ABA, focusing on communication and compliance skills). My son did this for just over a year and is now in reception in a mainstream school with no support and doing really well. I genuinely think it has changed his life, there is now way it has dented his confidence. ABA seems to be the standard go to in other countries (we live in Singapore). So you may have more options in Pakistan.

I have experience with ABA from about 9 years ago and though intense I thought it was great.

I'm curious why you would travel to Pakistan for ABA? Do they have more specialised centres for ABA in Pakistan?

You've described a child with sensory issues who is seeking big sensory input in the only way that he knows how to. This is fairly typical in autistic kids. A really good sensory integration occupational therapist will be able to help your son regulate himself and his sensory needs in a completely positive, confidence enhancing way. I wouldn't try to knock behaviours out of a child which are fulfilling a need - better to understand and address the need.

Similarly with the feeding. It takes gross and fine motor skills and prioperception, which I'd bet he's got a problem with. A really good OT will help with this by building his skills, not forcing him to do things that he doesn't yet have the skills for.

Think the above is a good point but the right ABA could potentially work wonders for communication skills.
Also good ABA focuses on positive skills rather than knocking out ‘bad behaviours.’

Fair enough, but the op did ask about jumping and kicking, and whether aba would be suitable. So in this case we probably are thinking about removing behaviour at least in part.

And I'm afraid I'd much rather have a degree qualified speech and language therapist than a randomer doing aba to improve my child's communication skills.

Occupational therapy and speech and language therapy are through the NHS so the OP wouldn't have to pay or travel to Pakistan for them. Legoroses makes an excellent point. Have you been referred for OT and SALT, @LovelyMamaof2 ? Has your son's school talked about getting an EHCP if he has needs that the school can't cover, like having an OT or SALT come during the term?

@AspergersMum yes you're right, it is expensive. I thought the same that I will always be there with him to watch, if anything I am uncomfortable with I can intervene and also if anything useful I can learn too.

@Bigcitylights that is excellent to know that your son is doing really well
I have never heard of VP MAPP but I will certainly look into this.

@Excited101 that is reassuring. Thank you.

@klayton yes, they have special centres in Pakistan where we can get all the therapies for the child. They work wonderfully. All very play based and child friendly.

@Legoroses thank you. We will be getting Occupational Therapy as well as you said he needs help with fine and gross motor skills. If he is presenting the behaviour because it helps him then I will not force to stop him, hopefully I will be able to understand his need.

I do understand a qualified Speech and Language therapist will help in his primary difficulty which is comminication. We definitely will be having Speech and Language Therapy and Occupation Therapy.
I'm just not sure if ABA is needed as well.

@AspergersMum currently he is receiving Speech and Language Therapy through NHS. He has just been referred for OP but I was told there is a waiting list (sighs).
We live in Scotland. Is EHCP available here?

My autistic Ds had assessments for SALT and OT but was not offered any ongoing therapy by the NHS. A diagnosis doesn’t guarantee therapy, like many things it’s a postcode lottery. In our area LA OT’s do not deal with any sensory issues, they offer a parent talk and that’s it.