@A MyAutismTeam Member
Okay that's good to know! I think that 10 hours is a good number for starting out.
I am not totally against food as long as they are not being mean about it and withholding food when the child is obviously hungry or thirsty. I've heard some bad stories but with only 2 hours a day, I plan on feeding him beforehand that way if they do decide to do food motivators, then I'll know they are just snacks and since he's not hungry then if he really wanted it he would work for it. I think it really depends on how far the therapist takes it. For example I hear that if the child cries for something and cannot do the requested command (which I don't like to think of it like that because I feel like he's still human, I wouldn't want people doing this to me) they won't let him have anything until he does it. So how long do they allow your child to cry for if he doesn't do what is asked? I understand ABA is to help them but there are times when one needs to be compassionate because they are having a hard time. Another example of what I mean is that we were at his appt with the director of that ABA place and our son wanted to drink. He signs more for whenever he wants something. And the director told us that that's not good because now they'll have to teach him that he can only do more when he wants more of something. And he will have to learn signs or to say 'drink' or 'eat' if he wants to do those things. Not sure if that makes sense. But he has signed 'more' for almost a year. I just see him getting very frustrated and crying because he is communicating the way he knows and we aren't responding.

But back to my child getting upset. How much is awhile when it's like every day.? Or how long will it seem like maybe the therapist is the problem or ABA isn't working out? Just want opinions and advice from others since we are new to it and I don't want to seem too overprotective especially since I know there will be times that I won't like something but it's not harming my child so I understand there are things I have to just let play out. But how long is too long is really the question lol. Sorry for the long reply!!

Mentioned Users

A MyAutis...

10hrs is pretty good we had 15 a week for our daughter. In regards to going to far it is a subjective type of thing. In ABA they try to find out what each child's motivators so they can use that to get the child to do what needs to be done. I see you are against the food motivator but tgat is what exactly motivates my daughter so they use it at her school by giving her choices for little snacks and it works well.

ABA is behavior modification so do get that done the therapist is going to have to push your child to do things they don't want to. In the beginning you are going to see your child get upset most likely so you have to work through it. If this continues after a while then I would question it. Also ABA is successful be cause of the skill of the therapist so sometimes it isn't the ABA it is the therapist. In that case you change the therapist and not give up on the ABA right away.

Wow! If your insurance is covering all that then Yes do it! I would definitely sit in on most of the therapy in the beginning. It will help you get on the same page and learn the "lingo" for behavior prompts and teaching. It helped me so much. Things to watch for....I noticed over time that my son would follow all instructions from the therapist but NO ONE ELSE! that's a huge problem but common with autism. It's a lack of "generalization skills". They learn skills but can't transfer the knowledge or skill to a different situation. Also your family will need to learn the lingo as well. It helps with consistency...but at the same time don't drive yourself crazy or your family! I found myself getting irritated when my teens or husband were not "doing it right". Truth is....it's a long process. If you can't communicate well or clash in personality with your ABA person....switch!! If possible...I say this because when your child is spending so much time and you as well...that relationship becomes very important. Good luck! I like ABA but it can be too rigid at times. I prefer a combination of ABA and a Son Rise therapy approach. I used both techniques for different t skills. Good luck!!

Food is a good incentive for our daughter as she doesn't eat much but she has a weakness for junk food. Kids won't die from being a little hungry and she eats when she wants to at home and she doesn't seem starved so apparently the ABA therapist was handing out the snacks. I don't question the methods most of the time because the therapist is doing her job and the she's not a parent to my kid. It's a different role. Doesn't your kid eat lunch? Our daughter never would eat if there were too many kids around due to the noise.

Hard to tell when things aren't working out because it takes time. We noticed our daughter talks more but now she cannot remember the basic things taught in the special ed class. ABA doesn't seem to stress any academic skills but I know my daughter can learn more. I forgot how many daycares, schools, therapists and doctors my daughter has seen in the last 3 years. We have moved and plan to move again for personal reasons and because we aren't satisfied with the options given to our daughter.

Parents should blame themselves for their own failings and of course your kid has limitations as well. I hate that my daughter wastes so much time looking at the IPhone but my wife hands it to her as a pacifier. I want to see if my daughter could function in normal classroom enough so she's not disruptive and messing up other kid's learning. She was in a normal daycare and her brother doesn't have ASD. She picks more autistic behaviors from looking at nothing but other kids with autism every school day.

@A MyAutismTeam Member
We are a military family so our insurance pretty much has to cover ABA, I just wasn't sure how many hours is too little/too much. Could you possibly give me an example of the lack of 'generalization skills'? You mentioned your son would follow instructions from just that one therapist. What's an example of that and how should I be watchful of things like that?
I do sort of drive my husband crazy trying to do things right. For instance my son knows to give you something if you say 'give to ____' but he will say 'can you give the toy to ____' and it's not something my son understands because of the wording so he doesn't listen obviously lol and I get onto him about stuff like that. But he probably takes it as if he's doing it all wrong. It's hard to have my husband learn these things or be a part of his therapies because he's always working lol. By the way I have never heard of Son Rise therapy. What is that? On top of ABA he has to do OT and Speech therapy. I wanted to put him in preschool since it's free on the military base but all the therapies run during school hours :(

Mentioned Users

A MyAutis...