Is ABA Therapy a Cure for Autism?

ABA therapy is referred to by many as the gold standard treatment for individuals with autism. Families touched by autism may wonder if there is a possibility that therapy will eventually cure their child. The truth is, while it is known as the gold standard treatment, ABA therapy is still just exactly that: a treatment. In spite of all the current progress in the medical field, there is still no cure for autism on the horizon.

Though not a cure, ABA therapy can drastically improve a child or young adult’s present-day quality of life as well as impact their future. You may have heard it said that Applied Behavior Analysis can help a child achieve their full potential. Here are just a few ways that ABA therapy makes that happen.

Developing communication skills – Communication takes many forms. Depending on a child’s needs, ABA therapy could work on verbal or nonverbal communication, social skills, or technology-assisted communication. Applied Behavior Analysis also seeks to understand behavior as a form of communication and replace target behaviors with alternatives to help the child express their wants or needs in a more appropriate way.

Building social skills – Children with autism often struggle with social interactions, and they may greatly benefit from ABA therapy teaching and reinforcing specific social skills, including understanding social norms and cues and regulating one’s own emotions.

Alleviate sensory issues – ABA therapy can address oversensitivity (or hyperresponsiveness) to sensory input, giving patients ways to cope with undesirable stimuli. It can also help ascertain the best way to increase helpful stimuli in children who are hyposensitive and may need extra sensory inputs like intentional movement or a weighted blanket.

In the end, an individual with autism may always have a weakness in one or more of these areas, but through ABA therapy they are able to build new skills and find ways to cope with their specific challenges. Though it cannot be seen as a cure, ABA therapy is a worthwhile undertaking to help ensure that your child lives their best life. Contact Positive Reinforcement today for ABA therapy servicing North Virginia, West Virginia. Now providing ABA Therapy Services to Richmond Virginia.