Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
We know you have questions about ABA therapies and how they can help you gain skills to help your children or the children in your care. You can also consult our Glossary of ABA for more information about the terms you see on this site.
If you do not see the answer to your question here, contact us and we will be happy to help you.
What Is Autism?
The autism, o Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States today
We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think, and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and attention issues.
The American Psychiatric Association merged four distinct autism diagnoses into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (2013).
They included:
• Autistic disorder,
• Childhood disintegrative disorder,
• Pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and,
• Asperger syndrome.
What Are the Symptoms of Autism?
The Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have difficulties with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.
The main symptoms of autism are:
– Social communication challenges and
– Restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Autism is also associated with high rates of certain physical and mental health conditions.
Social Communication and Interaction Skills
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.
Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include.
• Avoids or does not keep eye contact
• Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
• Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
• Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
• Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
• Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like)
• Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
• Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age
• Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age
• Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age
• Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months of age
Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors or Interests
People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.
Restricted and repetitive behaviors vary greatly across the autism spectrum.
Examples:
• Repetitive body movements (e.g. rocking, flapping, spinning, running back and forth)
• Repetitive motions with objects (e.g. spinning wheels, shaking sticks, flipping levers)
• Staring at lights or spinning objects
• Ritualistic behaviors (e.g. lining up objects, repeatedly touching objects in a set order)
• Narrow or extreme interests in specific topics
• Need for unvarying routine/resistance to change (e.g. same daily schedule, meal menu, clothes, route to school)
Other Characteristics
Most people with ASD have other related characteristics.
These might include::
• Delayed language skills
• Delayed movement skills
• Delayed cognitive or learning skills
• Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
• Epilepsy or seizure disorder
• Unusual eating and sleeping habits
• Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
• Unusual mood or emotional reactions
• Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
• Lack of fear or more fear than expected
• High pain tolerance
It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.
What Causes Autism?
Causes of Autism
We know that there’s no one cause of autism. Instead, research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences.
For instance, autism tends to run in families.However, certain environmental influences may further increase – or reduce – autism risk in people who are genetically predisposed to it. Some factors have been identified that increase the risk of autism, including parental age, pregnancy, and birth complications, like extreme prematurity and low birth weight, multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets), and pregnancies spaced less than one year apart. Prenatal vitamins containing folic acid are thought to decrease the risk..
It’s important to keep in mind that increased risk is not the same as cause. For example, some gene changes associated with autism can also be found in people who don’t have the disorder. Similarly, not everyone exposed to an environmental risk factor for autism will develop the disorder. In fact, most will not.
Each family has a unique experience with autism diagnosis, and for some, it corresponds with the timing of their child’s vaccinations. At the same time, scientists have conducted extensive research over the last two decades to determine whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The result of this research is clear: Vaccines do not cause autism.
How do these genetic and nongenetic influences give rise to autism?
Most appear to affect crucial aspects of early brain development. Some appear to affect how brain nerve cells, or neurons, communicate with each other. Others appear to affect how entire regions of the brain communicate with each other. Research continues to explore these differences with an eye to developing treatments and supports that can improve the learning processes, independence, and the quality of life.
What is the prevalence of autism?
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023)
– 1 in 36 children in the U.S. have autism, up from the previous rate of 1 in 44.
– In the U.S., about 4 in 10 boys and 1 in 10 girls have autism.
– Boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
– Autism prevalence is lower among white children than other racial and ethnic groups:
§ White – 2.4%,
§ Black – 2.9%,
§ Hispanic – 3.2%,
§ Asian or Pacific Islander – 3.3%.
These changes reflect an improvement in outreach, screening and de-stigmatization of autism diagnosis among minority communities.
What should I do if I suspect my child has autism?
First Steps
If you or your pediatrician are concerned that your child has autism, make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician, or neurologist, or set up a psychological evaluation with a specialist.
Once you have received a confirmed autism diagnosis, please call our offices and we can arrange for one of our experienced Analysts to conduct an assessment, in order to identify your child’s skills and deficits. Following this evaluation, we will create an individualized therapeutic program.
If you don't know how to start or who to contact, you can call us and we will guide you through all the steps to follow according to the particularities of your case. Below are some options.
§ Get your child screened as soon as possible. (You can request an autism screening anytime from your doctor, or an Early Intervention program.)
§ The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children get screened for autism at their 18- and 24-month exams – and whenever a parent or doctor has concerns.
§ Meanwhile, you can complete the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised (M-CHAT-R™). It takes just a few minutes to assess the likelihood of autism. And you can take the results to your doctor.
§ After screening, your doctor can refer you to a specialist for a diagnostic evaluation. Talk with your healthcare provider. Screening doesn’t diagnose autism. It flags behaviors often associated with the condition.
§ Developmental Milestones:
Skills such as taking the first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move.
You can follow the link below to see and complete the Milestone checklists.
But remember that you can call us and we will guide you through all the steps.
Who does Blue Peninsula ABA serve?
We offer ABA Therapy services for children from infancy through 21 years of age.
Where and when are the services delivered?
We have different options: Clinic, Home, School/Community.
Our therapists (BCBA, BCaBA, RBT) can work at your location of choice—at home, at school, in our clinic, or a combination of those settings. Our services are offered year-round and can be available after school and during weekends, as needed.
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
ABA is a scientific approach for identifying environmental variables that influence behavior of social significance (behaviors that may cause harm or interfere with the individual’s learning), and to promote behavior change through functional programs. Additionally, ABA focuses on skill acquisition. This happens when a behavior therapist is teaching a new, functionally related alternative behavior (to replace an inappropriate problem behavior) or to teach academic, self-care, motor, social skills, etc.
Basically, the purpose of ABA is to develop and improve desired behaviors while decreasing maladaptive and unwanted behaviors. ABA therapy will address developmental difficulties identified during an initial assessment of your child's functioning in a variety of areas.
Can I Participate?
Parent and caregiver involvement is critical to developing and implementing a better therapy program for your child.
They contribute to accelerating the learning process, generalizing acquired skills, reducing unwanted behaviors outside the therapeutic environment, and are essential to increasing the effectiveness of techniques and interventions designed for your child's development.
You don't have to worry about not knowing, we will train you!
At Blue Peninsula ABA Inc., our behavior analysts are trained to work with parents and help them master the strategies used in therapy. Whether it's communication methods, an established process for learning a task or reducing challenging behaviors, parents participate in parent training sessions that provide the tools they need to truly impact the development of their child with autism.
