Eclectic Approach vs. ABA Approach
The therapists at Applied Behavioral Consulting understand the importance of early education and social interaction. That’s why our licensed therapists go into the homes of kids with autism to work with them on a personal level. Not only do they help families enter into the world of their child to understand them from a different viewpoint, but they also help children find their voices, too!
Although there are many different approaches to helping autistic children, our autism curriculum at ABC parallels the core tenets of the ABA approach. Over the years, we have found that this curriculum helps children grow and learn the most effectively. A study conducted at the University of California recently compared the “eclectic” intervention approach to the ABA approach to determine which approach helped autistic children learn and grow the best. According to the Center for Autism, ABA “is the application of the principles of learning and motivation from Behavioral Analysis, and the procedures and technology derived from those principles, to the solution of the problems of social significance”. The “eclectic” approach involves multiple transitions per day from one activity or therapy to another. This study found that the children who received forms of intensive behavioral analytic treatment, like ABA, for 14 months vastly outperformed the children who received the “eclectic” approach of treatment in ever measure. This means that the children who received forms of treatment similar to ABA has large improvements in intellectual functioning, communication skills, and adaptive behavior.
Children with autism do not respond well to changes in their routine, and that is why the “eclectic” form of treatment was not beneficial to their growth. The therapists at ABC use and trust the ABA Approach when working with your child. Our Autism Curriculum at ABC encompasses three sections that are derived from the ABA approach. The first section is the Beginning Curriculum. Therapists specifically target skills relating to imitation, matching, early receptive language, basic attending skills, and fine/gross motor skills. Additionally, children learn and meet therapeutic goals in the Beginning Curriculum. In the Intermediate Curriculum, therapists will work with your child to develop social skills, pre-academic skills, and early conversation skills. The last section, the Advanced Curriculum, teaches children appropriate social interactions through conversation, reading gestures, social ques, and nonverbal communication. This section also advances play skills, independence, and quality of life.
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