If your child has autism, we know that you want for them to have the highest possible level of support available. In doing a few searches around the web, we’re sure that you have heard the term ‘behavior analysts.’ But it might not be entirely clear to you what exactly behavior analysts do, or how they can help your child. Today, we’d like to address both of these questions.
Behavior analysts can do wonders for your child. Here’s how.
What Do Behavior Analysts do?
At their most fundamental level, behavior analysts use systematic and scientific methods to evaluate behaviors. Once they’ve understood these behaviors, they use their expertise to change them so that their patients can have the highest quality of life possible. The principles of behavior analysis have been applied to patients in all manner of backgrounds. But how can they help children with autism specifically?
Help Develop Motor Skills
Far too few people discuss how autism can inhibit a child’s development of motor skills. Autism has the potential to impact both gross and fine motor skills. This means that activities such as riding a bike or handwriting could pose challenges of their own. Behavior analysts are not physical therapists, but they can still develop programs for your child specifically designed to help them enhance their motor skills.
Provide Structure
Behavior analysts have the skills necessary to provide children with the structured learning environment they need to flourish. Structure of this sort is crucial in order to cater to the needs of the individual child. One of the great benefits of a structured learning environment is that it enables the instructor to isolate triggers as well as to observe how they are linked to behavioral problems. They may also provide instruction on how to maintain structure at home.
Carry Out Early Intervention
A growing body of evidence suggests that early intervention has a demonstrable positive effect on both symptoms and skills. Generally speaking, early intervention refers to when a child receives treatment under the age of five. This is not to say that behavior analysts cannot help children who are older, or even adolescents. Still, you should keep in mind that its benefits may be most pronounced in instances of early intervention.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (301) 577-4333. Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.