Approx cost of ABA therapy?

[MumOfTwinsWorriedSick]

I posted recently about my 14 month old twins and concerns that they may be ASD. I know they're very young, but I am desperate to give them the best chance possible and am lucky to have some money in savings. I have read that ABA is the best therapy, but am struggling to find information on how to get it and how much it is likely to cost. Has anyone got any advice on how I can find a good provider, and what sort of cost it might be? Bearing in mind it will be x2... Really hoping I have enough to fund it but perhaps I'm being optimistic.

Have you considered Distance/Online ABA? Then you do it yourself but with guidance from a BCBA (either weekly or every 2 weeks). It's obviously quite a lot cheaper and means you are in control of exactly what is done, how much time, etc. We found we could blend things into daily life - we very rarely sat down to "do therapy". It was more about understanding developmental stages and stepping stones to help her do the next thing based on where she was.

We used a company called Beam ABA but I believe there are others.

@Mum012

I live in Basingstoke. The reason why I am asking you is because all other packages are way too expensive and either 15 hours or 30 hours. I also think it might be a lot for my son. He will soon be 3. Are you happy with your hours ? Do you think it is enough? I really appreciate your help but I am so lost at the moment

Unfortunately I don’t live close to you. Perhaps try and find someone who is self-employed and doesn’t work for a company, I think this will be more reasonably priced. I haven’t done online training so I can’t comment on how that would be. I think my dd would ideally do about 10 hours per week. 30 I think would be way too much at that this age.

Many thanks for this. I think online ABA will be beneficial when I feel confident enough about what to do.

Yes, I think it is a good idea to look privately. Thanks for your help and all the best.

The problem with ABA is that you need to find a good tutor, which is rare to find, otherwise it's very easy to mess up. I am not anti ABA and can see how some of their methods like breaking down skills, errorless learning is very beneficial and has been proven to be a success with children/adults with learning difficulties as well as those who have acquired brain injuries and so on.

I don't think ABA is good for teaching children speech and communication skills. I have to be honest. Especially since undertaken an ABA course. The programme appears to have a prerequisite model (e.g. the child has to do this before learning x) I don't think this is always beneficial A lot of the children who have had years of ABA, come across as robotic/route, they have lots of language but are very socially behind despite having "age appropriate" language. If you are going to use one, I would rather use one who is more naturalistic and does the ABA away from the table.

I think ABA primary works for most children is because it is intensive and the use of the methods, such as breaking down takes, errorless learning, backward/forward chaining.

Honestly, if you have the money, I will do intensive speech and language therapy, sensory integration and/or OT.

Many thanks for your reply. I agree with the fact that it is difficult to find a good tutor , plus , it is sooo expensive. You made me rethink my strategies and I am going to start with speech therapy first and see how it goes. At the moment, his other traits are manageable, but speech is the main concern. Thanks again for your input.