What is ASD? An ABA Parent's Roadmap

ABA Parents' Roadmap

No on knows your child better than you.

Does your child seem distant? Does it seem his or her speech or social interactions are different than other children their age? Or, does he or she have behavioral problems and engage in frequent, long-lasting tantrums?

While each child does develop at their own pace, you should take action if you’re concerned. Deciding to “wait and see”, hoping he or she will “grow out of it”, may delay necessary treatment, should there be a problem.

Could it be Autism? What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders that includes a wide range, or “spectrum”, of symptoms, skills and levels of disability. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 1 in 54 children has been identified with some form of ASD.

ASD is often characterized by:

Ongoing social problems that include difficulty communicating and interacting with others
Symptoms that limit the ability to function socially, at school, work, or other areas of life
Repetitive behaviors that are inappropriate
Limited interests or activities

Some persons with autism experience mild symptoms, while others are severely disabled. The spectrum is very broad and no two cases are the same.

ASD symptoms to look for

Thankfully, there are treatments and services that can significantly improve a person’s symptoms and quality of life. If your child is on the autism spectrum, early diagnosis and treatment can make a world of difference that affects the resto of their life, and yours.

Communication & Socalization

Brief or inconsistent eye contact
Not reacting to name being called
Being distant; preferring to be alone
Resistance to being held or touched
Not looking at toys you present to them
Rarely smiling at you
Rarely exchanging sounds, words, or gestures
Not pointing or waving

Behavioral Issues

Tantrums
Anxious when routines change or activities end
Aggression
Frequent body tensing, hand flapping, spinning, rocking, or gazing
Repetitive sounds or noises
Repetitive routines around toys, music, or videos

First steps for ABA therapy...

Speak with your Pediatrician

Talk with your Pediatrician about ASD screening if you notice any of the symptoms provided or if your parental intuition is telling you something is not quite right.

Your Pediatrician may recommend an ASD screening b a specialist. Specialists who can diagnose ASD include neurological Pediatricians, developmental Pediatricians, or child Psychiatrists.

Learn about ABA

If your child is diagnosed with ASD, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the only proven treatment to improve symptoms.

The objective of ABA treatment is to analyze a child’s behavior, and then develop and systematically apply ABA techniques to achieve meaningful change. In many states, including New Jersey, ABA is deemed “medically necessary” for persons with autism.

Contact your insurance

Call your insurance carrier to determine if your policy covers ABA. Ask to be connected to the carrier’s dedicated ABA department, if possible.

Determine the associated costs of ABA treatment, including your deductible, co-payment, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket expense. You will then need to determine which ABA providers are in your network.

Check out more resources about Applied Behavior Analysis

Next steps...

Select your ABA treatment provider

Choosing your ABA provider should be done with care. Ask as many questions as you have! Below are a few questions you want to start with.

Questions to ask a prospective ABA provider

Can the provider accept clients immediately or in the near future?
Are their staff members full-time employees who are dedicated and dependable - or, are they freelance contractors (1099)?
How frequently will a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) observe the ABA sessions, review your child's treatment data, and meet with you to discuss strategies?
Will you have access to data and written treatment plans and strategies?
How much input will you have when it comes to selecting goals and approving strategies?
How will you, as an ABA parent, be taught to replicate the strategies used by the staff to help your child?

What to expect when starting ABA therapy

While many ABA providers attempt to rapidly assess a child’s skills and begin treatment, Rinn ABA Consulting takes a more measured approach.

Complete assessment

Once insurance coverage is confirmed, Rinn ABA will schedule a comprehensive assessment with one of our highly qualified BCBAs. This BCBA will be in charge of your child’s treatment plan on a go-forward basis.

Individualized Treatment

Your BCBA will create a customized treatment plan unique to your child’s needs. Treatment plans include working closely with Parents and targeting skills and behaviors that matter most to your family.

Scheduled
ABA Sessions

A Behavior Therapist closely supervised by your child’s BCBA will conduct in-home ABA sessions at least 3 times per week. Data is collected during each session to be analyzed by your child’s BCBA.

Weekly
BCBA visit

Your child’s BCBA will conduct a scheduled visit to your home approximately once a week while also managing your child’s treatment via web-based data analysis.

Ready to get started with behavior therapy or Autism treatment?

Download our referral card to take to your diagnosing specialist or contact us and we can help you get started.