Can ABA Help My Child with ADHD?

Read Time: 5 Minutes

Can ABA help your child with ADHD?

Research shows that ABA therapy is evidence-based therapy that can help other diagnoses including ADHD. Research shows that a combination of ABA therapy and medication can make significant changes in a child’s behavior. 

Oftentimes, we’ve worked with children who engage in behaviors that may seem “impulsive”, “off-task” and “disruptive” to others in their environment. From our experience, some of these behaviors typically have a reasoning as to why they're occurring. Sometimes the learner may be engaging in these behaviors because they cannot communicate their wants and needs. Sometimes these learners cannot concentrate on their tasks because they are distracted by something in their environment. Sometimes these learners don’t realize they are being disruptive with their actions to others around them. 

Step right up Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)! What do we do in these types of situations? One of our primary goals in ABA is to provide our learners with the tools to help them advocate for themselves. We teach our learners to request for needs and wants appropriately instead of being impulsive and grabbing whatever they may need (be it materials or someone's attention).

We observe the learner in their natural environment and analyze the patterns of their behaviors. We conduct in depth analysis of their environment to determine what could be distracting them in times that they are off-task. We add tools to help them cope in environments that may be overstimulating to them. 

We provide our learners with tools to teach them recognize the behaviors they are engaging in and then help them correct this behavior (should it need to be corrected). One of our learners had a very challenging time completing tasks that involved more than 1 step (i.e. homework). We created a visual support to help with the completion of these steps. We then taught him self-management strategies to keep himself on track and complete these tasks from start to finish. An example of this program can be found below. We also taught this learner to track his “on-task” behavior using a vibrating timer at every 3 minute interval. When the timer went off, he had to evaluate his current actions and label if he was on or off task. Depending on the current action, he would either continue working OR redirect himself to the task he was supposed to be engaging in. This strategy was taken from Finn et al in 2014. 

In summary, ABA can be of immense help in helping your child with ADHD. Board Certified Behavior Analyst will evaluate your child’s current skill set, help create programs to help them develop the skills they need to communicate and teach any replacement or self-management behaviors to help them in the most challenging times of their day. Give us a call to learn more about how we can help! 

Resource: 

Finn, Lisa & Ramasamy, Rangasamy & Dukes, Charles & Scott, John. (2014). Using WatchMinder to Increase the On-Task Behavior of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 45. 10.1007/s10803-014-2300-x. 

Therapies that help a child with an Autism Diagnosis...

Read Time: 8 Minutes

Your child has received a diagnosis and you are provided with a list of recommended therapies and acronyms you may have never heard of. Don’t worry! We are here to help! We hope that this blog can help you understand what each of these therapies mean and how they will benefit your child. 

1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA Therapy): Your child may have been referred to ABA or Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of the principles of learning and motivation from behavior analysis which produce socially significant changes through the analysis, observation, design, implementation and evaluation of past and current environmental events (antecedents and consequences). ABA therapy programs will help your child increase functional communication and language, attention, social skills, memory and academics. There is also an emphasis on decreasing any challenging behaviors that the child may exhibit by teaching the child self regulation or replacement behaviors. ABA therapy can be provided in a variety of settings including home, school, clinic, community and group home settings. ABA therapy is individualized for each child and their family. Opportunities for parent support and collaboration with other professionals who are working with the child are also a part of our treatment plans. - Amarilys Morales, M.S., Board Certified Behavior Analyst

2. Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is focused on assisting children develop and enhance the skills that they require to grow and function throughout the various stages of development and into adulthood. Developmental delays, neurological impairments, physical impairment, and a host of other areas can hamper a child's ability to perform common tasks or progress at the developmentally expected level through the stages of motor, social, or cognitive development. Focus areas can include fine motor skills, visual motor skills, coordination, sensory integration, self-regulation, and strengthening to assist children with the ability to perform daily tasks and socialize at an age appropriate level. - Kathleen Pici, OTR/L, CAS

3. Pediatric Speech Therapy is specialized in developing and enhancing children’s ability to both express and understand verbal and written language. Various areas of focus include auditory processing, receptive language, expressive language, articulation, pragmatic skills, apraxia, dysfluency, and oral motor strengthening. In addition to communication skills, speech therapists can work on assisting a child that is experiencing feeding difficulties. Developmental delays, neurological impairments, as well as physical impairments can impact a child’s ability to produce language, understand language, and tolerate eating/swallowing age appropriate foods. - Kathleen Pici, OTR/L, CAS

4. Physical Therapy (PT) Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit motor impairments that include deficits in visual-motor and bilateral coordination, low tone, motor apraxia, toe walking and/or gross motor delays. Physical activity poses a challenge for those on the spectrum due to poor motor functioning, low motivation, and trouble engaging in a team environment. Children with ASD also have a higher incidence of obesity due to the movement difficulties that they face. Physical therapists have the ability to improve motor delay, increase social participation, and decrease developmental and daily functional obstacles that exist. Physical therapists treat gross motor delay by improving strength, gross motor skills, stability, stretching tight and underdeveloped musculature, and helping the child gain confidence in day-to-day activities and participation in sports. -Karly Zengel, PT, DPT

5. Licensed Psychologist: You may also be referred to a licensed school psychologist. Some licensed school psychologists also complete private psychoeducational evaluations. Psychoeducational assessments are completed for a variety of purposes, including eligibility determination for special education and related services, evaluation of progress, and the development of appropriate behavioral and/or educational interventions. Evaluations may include assessment of domains including, but not limited to: intellectual, academic, cognitive processing, adaptive, and social/emotional development. These results can be shared with the schools to assist in determining the need for a 504 Plan, Individual Education Plan (IEP), or College Board exam accommodation. Some licensed school psychologist may also assess for Learning Disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), academically gifted program (AGP), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and more. Licensed school psychologists help to find a child's strengths and weaknesses so you can walk away with a clear path to what they can do to help your child. The testing will provide concrete strategies and recommendations on what to do next  to help your child become more successful at school and home. -Stacy Zebrick, Licensed School Psychologist

As you can see, each professional and field has skills to help your child be successful in various areas. When providers collaborate with each other, we see the most significant differences in our children. We also always encourage our families to read about evidence-based practices that are available to your child as these will make the most significant differences. A special THANK YOU TO our wonderful community partners for sharing what they do with our readers!

Should you have any questions or would like to receive a copy of our referral list for Hillsborough County, please contact us!