What is the success rate of ABA therapy?

This article will show you what is the success rate of ABA therapy. Aside from that, the article will also explain what ABA therapy is, and who should take part in it.

What is the success rate of ABA therapy? 

There is a lot of data that suggests the high success rate of ABA therapy among autistic children. For example, a study that was done in 1987 discovered that once children with autism go through ABA therapy, 90% of them improved their behavior. Aside from that, 47% of the children that were analyzed had no traits that would differentiate them from non-autistic children.

Another study that showed the success of ABA therapy is one that was conducted in 2005. In that year a non-profit organization showed that 48% of the children that had gone through early age treatment were able to follow classes in regular classrooms.

When speaking about the long-term effects of ABA therapy on autistic children, according to the US Surgeon General, 45% of the autistic people that have had long-term success in their treatment went through ABA therapy. 

According to the same institute, after thirty years of research, it identifies that when a person with autism goes through ABA therapy, they have lower chances of behaving in inappropriate ways, and also improve their social skills.

It is also known that early years treatment with ABA therapy can even have a positive impact on the person’s IQ. Research has shown that 50% of the children that went through the ABA therapy they needed before they turned four had not only their IQ increased, but also their social, and speaking skills.

ABA therapy has also helped the learning process of people with autism. According to data released in 2005 by Swallows and Graupner, 48% of people on the autism spectrum have improved in that, and even on their test scores after they have gone through ABA therapy. 

Aside from the better grades, and improved learning skills, they also had more positive behavior in the classroom.

What is ABA therapy? 

Applied Behavior Analysis, which is also called ABA is a form of therapy that is ultimately focused on the person learning how to develop more positive behaviors. In the process of doing so, the professional will try to understand how you behave, and how the environment you are in affects it. 

In ABA therapy the professional will try to help you increase behaviors that are seen as positive, and decrease the frequency of behaviors that are not helpful, or even harmful to the person.

From this perspective, it is important to highlight that the ABA treatment will be adjusted to the needs of each client. You should also know that ABA can be performed in many settings, it can be done in a clinical setting, in a hospital, in school, or even in companies.

One of the key aspects of ABA therapy is positive reinforcement. This aspect talks about how each time the client acts in a way that is seen as positive, they will receive positive reinforcement from the professional in the form of a reward. 

What will encourage the person to repeat this behavior seeing it as positive again and again, and their behavior is changed in their everyday life.

Another key aspect of ABA therapy is understanding how this negative behavior happens. For that, the professional will trace the line of the behavior with the antecedent, and the consequence of it. The antecedent is called what happens right before that targeted behavior.

It can be what triggers the behavior, and it may be something that is said, an object, or even something in the person’s environment that causes them to behave in a determined way. As for the consequence, it is what comes after the behavior that is under analysis.

The consequence can be positive reinforcement, or even no reaction when the person has behaved in an incorrect, or inappropriate manner. Through that, the person can adjust their behavior to a more positive one.

To help the client in all of that, the first thing that the therapist will do is to assess the person’s skills and determine what their goals are. In some cases, depending on what brings the person to the ABA therapy, the family of the client will also take part in the treatment.

Who should do ABA therapy? 

ABA therapy can be suggested as a form of treatment for many matters. It is often most recommended to people that have autism since it can give them a concrete goal, and offer ways for them to manage their behaviors.

But it can also be used as a treatment for other mental health conditions such as depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), people that deal with fears, phobias, and anger issues, and even anxiety disorders. 

ABA therapy techniques can also be seen in other contexts such as educational ones, and hospital settings since they can help people that are dealing with health conditions that alter their behavior. Finally, ABA therapy has also been used in the business context as a way for companies to motivate their employees.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What is the success rate of ABA therapy? 

What is autism? 

Autism or autism spectrum disorder is the name given to a broad spectrum of conditions that causes a person to have trouble with social, and motor skills. They can also have repetitive behavior, difficulty with their speech, and the nonverbal

communication.

Autism happens to one in every 44 children in the United States. Although it is not entirely sure what causes the person to be autistic, it seems to be related to genetics, and environmental matters. Since it is a condition that happens in a spectrum, how each occurs also has to do with genetics and environment.

Each type of autism has its own set of behaviors and challenges. It can often affect the way they learn, think, and deal with problems. They can also be more or less sensory sensitive and have gastrointestinal problems, seizures, sleep disorders, as well as other mental health conditions.

The family will often begin to realize that the child is not developing as they should and that it may be autism around the age of 2 or 3. They can begin to show some development delays, and that is when the family will usually look for treatment.

Does autism have a cure?

No, there is no cure for autism, it is a chronic condition, and since it is not known exactly what causes it, or is not possible to cure it. 

But it is important to keep in mind that with treatment, especially through ABA the person can develop more positive behaviors, and strategies to deal with the shortcomings that are brought on by the condition. 

When is ABA most beneficial to children with autism?

The use of ABA therapy is most beneficial to people with autism when treatment starts before the child is 5 years old. But that doesn’t mean that after that it won’t have positive effects. Even when ABA therapy is done with older children with autism diagnoses, it still can be helpful.

During the ABA treatment with autistic children, they are trained on their social, and motor skills, along with verbal behaviors, and reasoning skills, and help them. manage behaviors that can be harmful to them.

Is ABA therapy always negative?

As the article has shown, ABA therapy can be extremely beneficial, especially to people that have been diagnosed with autism. This form of therapy

is a scientifically proven method to help people mold their behaviors into more positive ones. 

So it is safe to say that it can have a positive impact on people. But, as with everything that becomes well-known, and that is seen as a miracle cure for something, some people may have been trying to take advantage of the momentum. , some of them may be offering this type of treatment without proper training.

It is also important to take into consideration that, as with any type of treatment, or therapy, Aba therapy may not be suited for everyone. This is a process that is mostly connected to the person’s behavior, and how to mold it, but not one that will look towards understanding the emotional aspects of the behavior, and the root of it.

So if someone is looking for a deeper process, that will focus on understanding the root of your problems, you may want to look for other types of therapy, such as psychoanalysis.

How many hours of ABA treatment are considered good enough to treat a child with autism?

When you have a child that has autism, and they will begin ABA treatment, the professional that will treat them will likely assess their condition, and interview you to better understand the troubles you have been facing, and what they need to stimulate the child.

But there is a common guideline that has been defined for the treatment of children with autism, and that determines that a child that is younger than 3 years old and has been diagnosed with autism, should be in Aba treatment between 25 and 30 hours a week to reach the best outcome possible.

Is ABA good to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Yes, a person that has PTSD can often go to Aba therapy as a way to get treatment and deal with their condition. Through that treatment, the person with PTSD will develop a better ability to manage their emotions that are often related to the traumatic situation, and what triggers their reaction.

As the person learns how to manage their emotions, and control them, so it doesn’t get them. to act negatively. It will also help the person develop new behaviors related to these emotions, that can be seen as more positive ones.

Conclusion 

This article discussed the success rate of ABA therapy. Aside from that, the article showed what ABA therapy is, and who should use it as a treatment.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below.

References

https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-aba/

https://neuroclastic.com/aba-horror-stories-are-far-too-common/?amp

https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis

https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/aba-therapy-success-rates#aba-therapy-statistics-&-facts