Behavioral & Communication Approaches

Applied Behavior Analysis - ABA: Also known as Lovaas Therapy, the focus of this treatment is rewarding of appropriate behavior with the theory that rewarded behavior is more likely to be repeated. Individuals under going ABA usually work 30 to 40 hours a week with a trained professional. Tasks are broken down into short simple pieces, or trials that when successfully completed is rewarded to reinforce positive behavior. Some practitioners feel it is emotionally too difficult for an individual with autism to work that intensively, that it is too intrusive and that is does not prepare an individual with autism to respond to new situations. However, research shows that ABA provides consistent results in teaching new skills and behaviors to autistic individuals.

Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children - TEACCH: Developed at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in the 1970's, it is a structured teaching approach based on adapting the environment to the needs of the autistic individual. The program is designed around the individual's functioning level. Learning abilities are assessed through the Psycho Educational Profile (PEP) and then teaching strategies are designed to improve areas identified as needing improvement, such as communication, social and coping skills. Instead of teaching specific skills or behaviors the approach is to teach the individual to understand their environment and provide appropriate responses. The TEACCH approach searches for the source of the distress then teaches the individual to communicate what the problem is in order to get assistance.

Picture Exchange Communication System - PECS: This approach was designed to provide communication to those individual not capable of verbal communication. Approximately 40% of ASD individuals are non-verbal. PECS was developed by the Delaware Autistic Program to acquire functional communication skills. Using ABA based methods, individuals are taught to exchange a picture for something they want, whether item or activity.

Floor Time: Designed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, this treatment is a great deal like play therapy. Greenspan describes six stages of emotional development required for individuals to develop a foundation for more advanced development - scaffolding. Floor Time does not treat individuals as so many treatments do, focusing on cognitive development Rather Floor Time is designed to address emotional development and is often used for an individual's playtime in conjunction with other therapies such as ABA.

Social Stories: Developed by Carol Gray in 1991, Social Stories were designed to teach ASD individuals social skills. Addressing the ability to understand or recognize feelings, points of view or plans of others. In developing a visual comic strip type of story around a situation that is not handled successfully by the individual, the visual information is designed to provide the individual with information to assist in their understanding of the expected and/or appropriate response.

Sensory Integration: Many ASD individual suffer from sensory difficulties and may display over or under reactive response and/or lack the ability to integrate their senses. This therapy is usually performed by a speech therapist or occupational therapist and focuses on desensitizing the individual and helping them to reorganize sensory information. Before Sensory Integration Therapy is performed, the therapist should observe the individual in order to have a clear understanding of their sensitivities.

Relationship Development Intervention - RDI: Developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein, RDI is a clinical program teaching dynamic intelligence skills and motivation to individuals on the spectrum. Using a systematic step-by-step program, therapy is focused on building an individual's motivation to interact socially in a manner that allows for the acquired skills to be generalized.

RDI is used in schools and at home in day to day activities and seeks to strengthen pathways in the brain that may be underdeveloped. RDI is tailor to the individuals need and is not age specific. There is a rigorous certification for therapists and people surrounding the individual (teachers, parents) are taught how to use the strategies for day to day use and reinforcement.

More Than Words – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: More Than Words is a unique, world-renowned program that gives parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other social communication disorders practical tools to help their children communicate. The Hanen ® approach is based on the belief that children learn best in their everyday environments and that parents are the best people to help them develop social and communication skills. Classes include 8 group sessions, a preprogram in-home assessment and 3 individual videotape feedback sessions for each family. Classes are taught by Hanen® certified speech-language pathologists.

More Than Words is designed to help parents of all children under the age of six who are experiencing difficulties in social interaction and communication. A diagnosis of ASD is not required in order for families to enroll in and benefit from this course. This course is designed to complement and does not necessarily replace the need for other therapies.