ABA doing more harm than good?
By lvmybz
@lvmybz (125)
United States
May 4, 2010 12:06am CST
My son has been doing ABA for over 2 years and my husband and I both think its doing more harm than good. Sure he had required some skills, but most of it has been academically which he could also get at school, which he does and is doing great. He does good in his room with his tutor, but as soon as the session is over there are some issues. Such as when you ask him a question he repeats what you say. Instead of answering the question. It is very confusing b/c he only seems to respond when you do the discrete trials with him. The No, No prompts, but most people like the grocery store lady and my parents don't know how to do it. So they aks for example how are you today. A skill that has been mastered in his program, and he doesn't answer so then they just stop asking. We are just wondering if he didn't have ABA and we just worked with him like a typical child, would he improve and become more natual to talk to?
2 responses
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
7 May 10
ABA can't do harm to your child. ABA is something every parent of an Autistic child should use.
It's still early for your child. It can take years.
Right now he is learning to use his voice and that is what is important.
My son is in ABA and he is making some improvments, but you can't just ask him how his day is yet because he wont even try to answer or have eye contact, but in time, maybe one day he will.
Just think of it like this, without ABA, you wouldn't have any progress.
You can try the method as you call it, treating him like a typical kid, but you would still have to use a form of ABA.
We all use a form of ABA in our daily life.
Just don't give up and stop doubting your sons progress because he will surprise you each day. I'm sure he will make better progress if you continue ABA for the rest of his life as it should be taught everyday for life with anyone with speech problems and so on.
