Behavioral interventions and treatment of autism through ABA Therapy are effective if your child is having difficulty learning and acquiring critical skills, having trouble communicating and exhibiting problems or injurious behavior that interferes with daily functioning. Many parents of children in ABA Therapy report a significant reduction in daily stress as a result of working with behavioral therapists.
Research comparing ABA with other autism therapy and education programs shows that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who receive ABA treatment make greater progress in more skill areas than children who participate in other programs alone, such as speech therapy. In one long-lasting study of ABA Therapy, psychologists showed that 90% of the test children substantially improved learning and communication skills, including verbal behavior.
Today’s ABA Therapy has evolved significantly from its beginnings in the 1960s with Ivar Lovaas and discrete trial training. ABA Therapy for people with autism and their families is considered an evidence-based, best-practice treatment for autism and related disorders by the U.S. Surgeon General, the American Psychological Association and advocacy groups like Autism Speaks. This means that ABA has passed scientific tests of its usefulness, quality and effectiveness.