Aptos, CA psychologist: So is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) the BEST method for treating autism?
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Wake an autistic child for ABA treatment?
According to Dr. Bryna Seigel, for treating autism Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) IS the best method and it needs to be done from a developmental perspective.
That’s the problem. The ABA folks far too frequently do not use a developmental framework. Too often the ABA trainers do not use anything other than the one tool they know: stimulus – response. And far too often, ABA trainers do NOT know what is appropriate developmentally or culturally for that child.
The bottom line is that the ABA folks are narrowly trained and practise a narrow technique. It is good that they stay within the boundaries of their knowledge. Thank god for that! It is not good that they think that their method is the only way to go.
For example, too often ABA trainers will train the child during a time of day that typically the child naps. Does that make sense? Not from a developmental perspective. (more…)
