Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis has been tested and shown in many studies to be the most effective method for improving the skills of children with Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many parents ask “does ABA work?” And the answer has been YES through years of research. Parents also often ask can ABA be used on higher functioning children? The answer again is YES, ABA is effective with children of all ages and ABA can be helpful for children who already have language and need more fine-tuned social skills training.

Acuity Behavior Solutions provides Play-Based Applied Behavior Analysis services, including individual in-home therapy, as well as social skills groups for children, social skills groups for teens, and social skills groups for adults with Autism. Acuity Behavior Solutions’ staff can design a plan for Autism Treatment in Orange County and LA County CA of related disorders to include individual therapy or social skills groups or both. We also have clinic-based services for members who are not able to have therapy done in their own homes. Clinic-based ABA therapy can be helpful for children who need a new environment besides the home to improve skills, or who do not live in a situation where ABA in the home would be beneficial. Our supervisors at Acuity Behavior Solutions create programs that take into account the individual child and family needs. The location of therapy can be an important decision and all methods of delivery that we offer can be helpful for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including in-home, in-clinic, social skills groups in the clinic, and social skills groups in the community.

Parents often wonder Why is individualized treatment so important? This is an excellent question. Most parents of a child with Autism know that each child with ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, is different from other children with Autism. Just like with children who don’t have Autism, each child is different! At Acuity Behavior Solutions, we individualize every plan for Autism Treatment in Orange County and LA County CA, and every treatment plan for behavior problems to ensure that it fits the exact needs of the child we are working with. If the plan was built for a different child, it might not work as quickly or as well. At Acuity Behavior Solutions, each program is specific to the child that we work with. This ensures that the goals are perfectly aligned to what the child with needs for Autism Treatment in Orange County and LA County CA at that time. There is ample research that individualization is needed in ABA programming and Acuity Behavior Solutions staff are constantly updating the programs to be in alignment with the child’s current needs.

A good Applied Behavior Analysis program for a child with Autism will be specific for that child. ABA programs can be play-based or can be more clear non-play-based teaching. There is excellent research showing that play-based therapy, as well as other methods like Discrete Trial Training, are highly effective. Acuity Behavior Solutions uses a combination of Discrete Trial Training, called DTT for short, and Natural Environment Training, also called NET. Play-based therapy is typically recommended for any child who is able to learn in this way because it more closely imitates the way typically developing children learn. Play-based ABA therapy also makes the therapy fun and exciting, which increases participation and learning. Acuity Behavior Solutions’ staff at all levels love to play and teach through play!

Applied Behavior Analysis is actually a science that works with all people, including children with Autism and other disabilities. ABA principles can be used to manage the behavior of any person, including adults! ABA is a science and years of testing have shown how to change behavior using ABA principles. An example of one of the most important ways to change behavior through ABA is with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a method of rewarding appropriate behavior only after the desired and appropriate behavior occurs. Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to increase appropriate behavior.

Call us today to schedule an appointment. Find out how we can help you or your child with ABA therapy to increase your child’s skills and decrease problem behaviors. ABA has been shown to be highly effective in numerous studies, and our quality ABA program has helped hundreds of children to meet goals, improve skills, and increase overall independence. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your life-changing ABA therapy.

Functional Behavior Assessment >> ABA Treatment, Supervision and ABA Parent Consultation >> Generalization to Other Locations and People >> Graduation!

Most insurance companies require a diagnosis and recommendation for ABA therapy. Once our insurance specialist team has the diagnosis and recommendation from your diagnosing clinician, we will request all the basic information needed from you and fill out the authorization forms. We have all the insurance company contact information and forms, so you don’t have to worry about them!

Functional Behavior Assessment: ABA starts with an ABA Assessment, also called a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), a guide for our intervention. Our assessment includes both interactions with parents/caregivers and with your child. Our comprehensive assessments cover a wide range of areas with a specific focus in areas of difficulty for individuals with autism. Communication, social, behavioral, safety, self-help, and executive functioning skills are a common focus. We work on skills like verbal communication, non-verbal communication, social cues, social responses, following commands, compliance, waiting, making friends, conversation, sharing, self-help routines like washing hands, and many other skills.

ABA Treatment, Supervision, and ABA Parent Consultation: Applied behavior analysis intervention sessions will be spent in the home or in a natural environment, to work on the teaching of skills. Naturalistic, play-based ABA methods increase child participation and motivation, assist with easier fading of adult support, and result in decreased challenging behaviors during teaching sessions. In a play-based ABA session, your child has fun while the therapist systematically targets skills within the play routines. To the untrained eye, it may look like the therapist is just playing! Playtime allows our kiddos to generalize most of what we’re working on, particularly communication and social goals. We’re able to mimic so many things that arise in their daily, natural environments. The skills we teach through play are often more easily transferred outside of the center with classmates and siblings. Our focus is on an appropriate level of trials per hour, as well as the quality of those trials, to ensure optimal progress. Each “trial” is a teaching opportunity, and Applied behavior analysis intervention provides many trials of each goal we are working on. Studies show that this type of teaching is very effective. This approach facilitates your child’s engagement with age-appropriate toys and activities while teaching necessary skills utilizing his or her natural interests to reinforce new skills and desired behaviors. It also more closely replicates the way typically developing children often learn…through play! If appropriate for your child, ABA can also include some Discrete Trial work which might occur at the table, lots of positive reinforcement using whatever is motivating for the child: praise, tickles, hugs, high-fives, opportunities to play, and sometimes foods or candies (if the parent has approved). Often, the therapist will do a variety of tasks in order to assure that there are focus and mastery versus rote repetition or boredom. Our BCBAs use clinical judgement to determine if discrete trial training is needed for developing a particular skill.