If you are wondering how ABA therapy can work over a virtual medium, then you have come to the right place! Here, we will give you the information you need to make an informed choice about whether virtual ABA therapy is right for your situation.
What is ABA Therapy?
ABA stands for applied behavior analysis and is a method of therapy. ABA therapy is a method of behavioral therapy designed to help change a persons’ behaviors using a tailored system of rewards and reinforcement.
ABA therapy can help to improve social skills, communication, interpersonal connection, and learning skills through steady reinforcement and encouragement. ABA therapy is considered a very effective form of therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD.
ABA is an effective form of therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder because it can help them to create social bonds, strengthen interpersonal skills, enhance communication skills, and help them to learn learning skills.
Where Can ABA Therapy be Done?
ABA therapy can be done in a variety of places. It does take constant awareness and focus on the person in ABA therapy because it is heavily reliant on reinforcing “good” behaviors. That means when the person in therapy does something that shows they are learning a new skill, it needs to be reinforced.
Some places that you can practice ABA therapy with the person in therapy are:
- At school
- At home
- In a store/in public
- A real-life experience (when the child is ready)
- telehealth/virtual ABA therapy
It is important to note that if you decide that you want your child to practice the ABA therapy methods in school, you need to make sure you communicate actively with the school and your child’s teachers so they know what behaviors are being reinforced and how they are being reinforced.
Telehealth ABA Therapy
In this section, you will learn more about telehealth ABA therapy and how it can occur, help, and be effective for your child!
What is Telehealth ABA Therapy?
Telehealth ABA therapy is a form of ABA therapy that is done over a form of digital communication! It makes ABA therapy more accessible, easier to do during a pandemic, and easier for families to coordinate times and therapists.
Telehealth ABA therapy also allows the child to stay in their home, which helps to keep them relaxed. For some children with autism, a new environment that breaks their routine can cause them a lot of stress, which can lead them to not give their attention to the therapy.
Telehealth ABA Therapy Examples
The following are some of the ways your child can get telehealth ABA therapy!
- Zoom
- FaceTime
- Skype
- Google Meet
These are all very easy to set up and use, plus because they are video chats, it allows both the child and therapist to see each other, which can help increase the bond. The better the bond between the therapist and child, the better the trust which can help the child learn these skills easier and faster.
Advantages of Telehealth ABA
One of the benefits of telehealth ABA therapy is that your child can attend therapy if the therapist is sick or if the child is sick. Either way, the other participant in therapy is protected from germs and everyone can feel better quicker!
Plus, if your child is the one sick, they can do their therapy in a more relaxed and rested space; their home. No one likes leaving the house when they are sick and children are certainly no exception to that rule.
Another benefit of telehealth ABA therapy is the ability to do therapy anywhere! You can have therapy at home, at a babysitter’s house, at daycare, at the park, at Grandma’s, or on vacation! You do not have to miss out on valuable therapeutic time because you are unable to go to the office or you are out of town.
Plus, telehealth ABA therapy comes with a nice cost reduction, so your pockets will thank you as well!
What is Included in Telehealth ABA Therapy?
In telehealth ABA therapy several aspects are included. First, there is the initial assessment where a therapist meets with the child to get to know them, observe their behavior patterns, communication, learning skills, and interactions with others.
This helps the therapist learn all about what skills your child is already doing well and which ones need support from ABA therapy.
The second aspect is included in the therapy plan. The therapy plan is a personalized system and plan created by the therapist that will be the treatment path for your child. No two plans are the same because no two children are the same, so you are guaranteed a personal plan with ABA therapy.
Third, you as parents are included in the process. The therapist will give you plenty of educational time where parents can learn all about the treatment plan, the skills that the therapist and child are working on, and how to support your child during the treatment.
Of course, the next thing you will receive is the ABA therapy itself! This is a long-term aspect of the treatment plan where the treatment plan is put into action and the therapist begins to work with the child to improve their behavior and reinforce good learning habits.
Lastly, the therapist will monitor the behavioral changes in your child over time as the therapy progresses to make sure that the proper goals are getting reached. Sometimes the therapist may have to tweak or alter the treatment plan depending on how your child is responding to the therapy.
Things to Consider Before Virtual Therapy?
Below are some questions you should ask yourself or your therapist before signing on to a virtual ABA therapy commitment.
- Does the therapist have virtual therapy experience?
- What will the goals of the ABA therapy look like in your case?
- How long will the sessions be?
- Is the therapist’s technology reliable?
- Is your technology reliable?
- Will telehealth ABA therapy benefit your child?
If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.
