Pediatric Early Intervention ABA Therapy, also known as Pediatric applied behavioral analysis therapy, is typically the most effective treatment available for kids with ASDs. It relies on early intervention, intensive treatment schedules, and special, non-verbal exercises to build core skills, promote target behaviors, and reduce the chance of problematic behavioral patterns asserting themselves.

Many of our pediatric ABA patients are very young. They have just been diagnosed on the spectrum. The age required for a reliable diagnosis is typically an appropriate age to begin treatment — usually around 2 years old. Each case is different, so please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Pediatric  Early Intervention ABA Therapy: An Overview

In general, children benefit significantly from ABA. This includes patients that were once referred to as having high-functioning or mild autism spectrum disorders.

Any diagnosis on the autism spectrum indicates the presence of atypical behavior and sensory patterns. These patterns lie outside the norm, and often cause problems for the patient in school, at home, and out in public. ABA seeks to preempt this by teaching desirable behavior.

A Head Start with ABA

Early intervention ABA therapy is widely recommended. Generally speaking, the consensus is that children ages five and under have the most to gain from treatment.

Due to the many developmental milestones leading up to this age — the refinement of motor skills, development of basic social behavior, the growth of receptive and communicative vocal language skills, and so on — it is not uncommon to receive an initial ASD diagnosis before a child is five years old. Many children receive their first reliable diagnosis around the toddler age, between 18 months and 3 years.

Preparing for Success

With an early enough diagnosis, pediatric ABA plans could precede every type of school — even pre-school, which generally starts around age 3-4. Therefore, early intervention for children with autism could effectively prepare for success in even the earliest social and academic situations.

Acting Decisively

Even if you do not choose ABA for your child, we would urge you to pursue a formal, scientifically established treatment option. At the very least, please do not adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

These issues do not typically get better with time. In fact, many parents and non-clinical caregivers inadvertently reinforce negative behavior patterns, making it more difficult to modify them in the future.

Committing to Improvement

Intensive pediatric ABA therapy is generally recommended for younger children. This typically takes the form of several hours a day at the clinic. The organized, optimized clinical environment combines with personal attention from license therapists to give children the head start they need.

At ATG, we love being a part of the often-rapid progress associated with pediatric ABA. It is a rewarding process to promote healthy development during a patient’s most important stage of learning. To learn more about how the treatment might work for your child, contact us today at (847) 465-9556.