Are Children with Autism the Only Ones Who Can Benefit from ABA Therapy?

ABA therapy is commonly used to help children with autism decrease target behaviors and increase positive behaviors. But it doesn’t help only children with autism, it can also be beneficial to adults with autism and individuals with similar disorders. Let’s learn more about what ABA therapy can do.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Applied Behavior Analysis is often used to bolster the social skills of a child with autism. Rather than communicate their needs through negative behaviors, children with ASD are taught to ask for what they need in a healthier way, thus improving their interactions with others and their overall quality of life.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ABA therapy’s use of positive reinforcement can be helpful for an individual with ADHD to decrease impulsivity and increase focus.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Doctors have been known to recommend ABA therapy to their patients with OCD. Therapy may help someone with OCD to get a handle on obsessive thoughts and possibly use replacement behaviors instead of acting on compulsions.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

A typical treatment for ODD is anger management therapy. An individual with ODD may be short-tempered, easily agitated, argumentative, and driven by thoughts of vengeance. They may intentionally seek to create an uncomfortable situation with others when they themselves are uncomfortable. Some of these symptoms can also be found in children on the autism spectrum, so it stands to reason that ABA therapy can also help those with ODD as well.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can occur in people of all ages and for a wide variety of reasons. Whatever the trauma that leads to the disorder, treatment will probably entail more than just ABA therapy. But studies show that ABA may be useful in helping patients acknowledge specific thoughts and therefore confront them. This gives patients more control over their emotions and more confidence in their own ability to cope with their condition.

Contact Positive Reinforcement today for in home ABA therapy, servicing North Virginia, West Virginia. Now providing ABA Therapy in Richmond Virginia.