Last Updated on November 14, 2022 by Lily Connel
ABA therapy is the most effective way to treat the symptoms of autism. It teaches them life skills they will need later in life, like communication, social skills, and self-care. It is important that ABA therapists are highly trained professionals who have received a lot of education on how to work with children with autism and other special needs. on the other hand, The treatment has its naysayers. Some parents and people with autism believe that the treatment is unethical.
ABA therapy also helps reduce behavioural problems caused by autism. They can be taught how to interact with other children and adults in socially appropriate ways. This helps them build friendships and learn how to get along better at home, at school, and in public places like the grocery store or park.
Pros and Cons Of ABA Therapy – The Table Comparison
| Serial | Pros Of ABA Therapy | Cons Of ABA Therapy |
| 1. | ABA Therapy is a simple concept for parents to learn. | ABC Therapy is expensive. |
| 2. | The therapy of autism can be altered to fit the needs of each child. | The effectiveness of ABA therapy is not immediately apparent because the time frame for results varies. |
| 3. | The Effectiveness of ABA Is Based on Research. | The process of finding a good therapist can be difficult. |
| 4. | ABA therapy is conducted by trained professionals. | ABA therapy (or ABA-based therapy) may not be effective for all children with autism. |
| 5. | ABA therapy allows for symptoms to be recognized and treated earlier. | ABA may not be the best treatment for all children with autism. |
| 6. | They also say that ABA therapy should be customized, not one-size-fits-all. | There is a lack of research on older children and adults. |
| 7. | ABA therapy can improve your child’s skills and cognitive abilities. | Not all children with autism can benefit from ABA therapy. |
| 8. | It can help in raising a child’s IQ levels by 30-50 points. | ABA therapy for children with autism is a controversial topic. |
| 9. | ABA therapy Can Reduce The Number of Days Kids Miss From School. | ABA therapy is a crucial treatment for some children with autism. |
Pros Of ABA Therapy:
1) Develop Different Skill
ABA therapy helps in the development of communication skills, social skills, and self-help skills in autistic children. It teaches them to communicate with others, understand what others want to say and what they mean, and use appropriate social cues. This makes them feel confident and secure enough to interact with people around them. They also learn to read facial expressions and body movements.
2) Better Than Other Therapies
ABA therapy is considered to be more effective than other therapies. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recommend this therapy for the treatment of autism. It is the most widely used and studied behavioural therapy for autism.
3) Ease Behavioral Problems
ABA helps autistic children develop better self-control, which in turn helps them to manage their behaviour problems. This makes them feel more comfortable in social situations and also improves their overall performance in school.
4) Helps Improve IQ Levels
One of the major goals of ABA therapy is to increase cognitive functions in autistic children, including memory, problem-solving skills, attention span, and language development. As a result, the IQ levels of these children improve over time.
5) Works For All Ages
ABA therapy can be used to treat autistic children of all ages. Even adults with autism can benefit from this therapy. The only thing that changes is the intensity and frequency of the sessions.
6) Aids In The Development Of Motor Skills
ABA helps autistic children develop better motor skills and coordination. This is because it teaches them how to control their movements and use them effectively while performing different functions. In this way, they are better able to handle tasks that require physical movement, such as dressing up, playing sports, or even handling simple chores around the house.
7) Improve The Quality Of Life For Autistic People
ABA helps in improving the quality of life for people with autism by enabling them to live independently and with dignity. This gives them a chance to develop and express their personalities, which would otherwise be suppressed due to the condition.
8) Better Than Medication
While medication helps reduce some of the symptoms of autism, it cannot help autistic children learn new skills or improve their cognitive functions. As a result, they would not be able to live independently as adults. Instead, ABA therapy teaches them how to perform these functions so that they can lead a normal life after the completion of the sessions. In this way, it is more useful than medication.
9) No Side Effects
Unlike other therapies and medications for autism, ABA has no side effects on autistic children. This is because it does not use drugs or chemicals to treat the condition.
10) Easy To Implement
ABA is easy to implement, even in home settings. This is because all it requires are the child, therapist, and parents. No other equipment or professionals are required for this type of therapy.
11) Works With All Types Of Autism
ABA works with all types of autism, including Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
12) Helps In The Treatment Of Other Conditions
ABA is not only useful for treating autism but also several other conditions. These include mental retardation, Down syndrome, speech disorders, and developmental delays.
13) Does Not Require Any Drugs Or Medications
ABA is a drug-free therapy that does not require any medications to treat autism. This makes it more effective and safer than other therapies that use drugs to treat the condition.
14) Aids In Social Interaction
ABA helps autistic children develop better social skills and interact better with their peers. This is because it teaches them how to communicate effectively and form relationships with others. In fact, ABA therapy can help autistic children learn skills that are essential for their social and emotional growth.
15) Helps Improve Language Skills
ABA is known to be one of the most effective therapies for improving language skills in autistic children. Through this therapy, they are able to develop their communication abilities, which are often limited by their condition.
Cons Of ABA Therapy:
1) Time And Cost Can Be Prohibitive
In Lovaas’s study in 1987, children received 40 hours of ABA each week. This amount of therapy is and can be prohibitive because of both the cost and time involved. Many school districts, even those that provide ABA services, don’t have the resources available to provide ABA for that many hours. Therefore, many children with autism who do receive ABA services only receive them for a portion of the time suggested.
2) ABA May Not Be The Best Treatment For All Children with Autism
Not all children with autism will benefit from ABA. The current research shows that ABA is most effective when used in combination with other forms of intervention, like speech therapy. Currently, professionals are working to discover which interventions are most effective and in what combination.
3) Lack Of Research On Older Children And Adults
Because the focus of early intervention is on young children, there is a dearth of research on the effectiveness of ABA for older children or adults with autism. Although some studies have been done, there needs to be more research conducted regarding the long-term effects and effectiveness of ABA for this age group.
4) The Development Of The Social Skills Deficit
Many professionals believe that it is not ABA itself but rather the lack of social skills development that is a problem. Therefore, if a child doesn’t receive ABA and is instead provided with opportunities to develop social skills in natural environments, they will be more likely to develop these skills.
5) ABA May Not Be Effective For All Children With Autism
A recent study by Dr Laura Schreibman showed that ABA may not be effective for all children with autism. In her study, she found that “children who showed little to no response to ABA treatment did not improve significantly in academic or language skills.”
6) ABA May Not Be The Best Treatment For All Children With Autism
The current research shows that ABA is most effective when used in combination with other forms of intervention, like speech therapy. Currently, professionals are working to discover which interventions are most effective and in what combination.
Conclusion
The ABA methodology is based on the premise that individuals with autism have a deficit in their ability to generalize learned information to other settings. The majority of ABA programs are designed to provide intensive training and reinforcement in specific areas of functioning, such as language and social skills.
