Behavioral Therapies to Treat Autism

Main thing

Behavioral therapies are the primary proven treatments for autism, specifically designed to address and improve behaviors.

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects how a person communicates with others and experiences the world around them. It often involves challenges with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Behavioral therapies aim to address these challenges by focusing on modifying behavior. Here are several types of behavioral therapies, each with its unique approach and examples:

1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): This therapy reinforces positive behaviors and diminishes negative ones to help individuals learn new skills. For example, a child learns to request a toy using words or pictures rather than screaming, addressing the behavior of communication.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals with autism understand and manage their thoughts and feelings, leading to better emotional control and problem-solving. For example, a teenager with autism learns to identify the onset of anxiety and uses specific techniques to manage it, addressing the behavior of emotional regulation.

3. Early Start Denver Model (ESDM): This early intervention program combines ABA principles with play to improve language, social, and cognitive skills. Through play, a toddler improves social communication, addressing the behavior of interacting with others.

4. Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT): PRT targets key areas of a child's development to bring about positive changes in other behaviors. By choosing activities they enjoy, a child is motivated to communicate their choices, addressing the behavior of social initiation.

5. Verbal Behavior Intervention (VBI): VBI focuses on teaching language and understanding the reasons behind using certain words. A child learns the function of words, addressing the behavior of effective communication by expressing a desire for water to receive a drink.

Behavioral therapies are tailored to the individual needs of those with autism, with the goal of improving behaviors that can lead to a better quality of life.

Terms

• Autism: A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. For example, a person with autism might have trouble understanding social cues.

• Behavioral Therapy: A type of therapy that focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through reinforcement strategies. For example, rewarding a child for using polite words instead of yelling.

• Positive Reinforcement: A technique used in behavioral therapy where desired behaviors are encouraged through rewards. For example, a child receives a sticker for completing homework.

• Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in an appropriate way. For example, using deep breathing to calm down when feeling overwhelmed.

• Social Communication: The use of language and nonverbal cues to interact with others. For example, a child uses gestures and eye contact to express interest in a conversation.

• Repetitive Behaviors: Actions that are done over and over again, which can be common in individuals with autism. For example, lining up toys in a specific order repeatedly.

• Early Intervention: The process of providing support and therapy to young children with developmental delays as soon as possible. For example, starting speech therapy for a toddler showing signs of communication delays.

An analogy

Behavioral therapies for autism can be likened to training for mountain climbing. Just as climbers must develop various skills and adapt to the environment to reach the summit safely, individuals with autism use behavioral therapies to learn and adapt social and communication skills for navigating the social world.

A main misconception

Many people mistakenly think that behavioral therapies aim to make individuals with autism 'normal'. Instead, these therapies are designed to empower them with skills to communicate and interact on their own terms.

For example, rather than forcing a child to stop flapping their hands, behavioral therapy might focus on teaching them alternative ways to express excitement or manage sensory overload.

The history

1. Early 20th Century: Initial theories about autism began to form, but no effective treatments were available.

2. 1960s: Behavioral therapies for autism began to be developed, with Ivar Lovaas' work on ABA being particularly influential.

3. 1980s-1990s: Expansion of behavioral therapy approaches, including the development of new therapies like CBT for autism.

4. 2000s-Present: Continued research and refinement of behavioral therapies, with a strong emphasis on early intervention.

"Ivar Lovaas' work laid the foundation for modern behavioral therapy in autism treatment."

Three cases how to use it right now

1. A parent uses positive reinforcement at home to encourage their child with autism to try new foods by offering praise and a favorite toy when they taste something new.

2. A teacher implements a reward system in the classroom for a student with autism who completes tasks without engaging in repetitive behaviors, like hand-flapping.

3. A therapist works with a child with autism on emotional regulation by teaching them to use a stress ball or listen to calming music when they start to feel anxious.

Interesting facts

• Children who receive early intervention for autism with behavioral therapies can make significant improvements in their development.

• ABA therapy has been shown to produce improvements in IQ scores for some children with autism.

• CBT can be adapted for nonverbal individuals with autism by using visual aids and other non-speech communication methods.

• PRT was developed at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has been recognized for its effectiveness in naturalistic settings.

• The ESDM is one of the few autism therapies that is designed to be implemented by both parents and professionals.