Signs Your Child May Benefit From ABA Therapy

A fact about having kids that every parent realizes eventually is that every single child is different. Development progresses at a pace individual to each child, but there are times that missed milestones can become stressful, confusing and overwhelming to the parent. Some delays and behaviors signal a need for extra support, something that should be brought up to your family pediatrician for further evaluation. When support is needed, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy may come in handy. This research-backed therapy is helpful for children with autism and other developmental differences, working within their personal strengths and challenges to find the most effective ways to build important life skills.

In this blog, we will go through some of the common early signs your child may benefit from ABA Therapy.

What Is ABA Therapy?

ABA Therapy uses a data-driven approach to help understand behavior to develop the most effective strategies for each child. After a thorough assessment, Bloom Behavioral Healthcare incorporates personalized principles of learning and behavior to help children improve communication, social skills and daily living skills while working to reduce challenging behaviors. This is done in a structured, supportive environment with parent collaboration an important component to success. Through a system of trigger-recognition and positive reinforcement, children can learn to navigate their world in a way that works best for them.

Signs To Watch For: 18 Months - 3 Years Old

Bloom Behavioral Healthcare LLC works with children 18 months to 10 years old. If you have noticed that your child may not be meeting certain developmental milestones, it may be time to explore an evaluation. These early signs include:

• No or limited eye contact

• No response to name

• Few or no spoken words by 24 months

• Repetitive behaviors like hand-flapping, spinning, lining up toys

• Lack of interest in interaction, even family

• Absence of pretend play

• Excessively hard time with transitions or routine changes.

Signs To Watch For: 3 - 10 Years Old

Often, obvious signs of autism or other developmental concerns don’t show up until preschool or early elementary years. The signs that support may be needed include:

• Trouble with social interaction

• Communication challenges

• Rigid routines

• Extreme resistance to change

• Tantrums or emotional outbursts that seem larger than a situation warrants

• Sensory sensitivities, such as strong reactions to sound, lights, smells, or textures

• Trouble with following directions or completing multi-step tasks

• Delays in daily living skills, such as using the toilet, eating or dressing

How ABA Therapy Can Help Children

If any of these signs seem familiar, it may be time to consider ABA Therapy. ABA Therapy can help by:

• Recognizing triggers to formulate a plan of action to avoid dysregulation before it happens

• Teaching communication in ways the child understands and can use

• Increasing independence in daily routines

• Reducing behaviors that interfere with education or daily life

• Building social skills through play and peer interaction

• Helping your child feel more confident in who they are

• Teaching self-advocacy skills

• Improving a feeling of connection between your child and the world

How To Seek Help For Your Child

If you have concerns about your child’s development, always trust your gut. There’s nothing wrong with discussing your concerns with your pediatrician or a specialist, even seeking out a second opinion if you feel it’s necessary. Most insurance plans will cover services like ABA Therapy, but only with an official autism diagnosis. Bloom Behavioral Healthcare accepts several insurance policies, and also offers self-pay.

Early intervention can make a huge difference, but it’s never too late to get started. If you are ready to learn more about how ABA Therapy can help your family, or you’re ready to set up a consultation, contact Bloom today!