Autism is a part of so many households in Sacramento and across Northern California. More than ever, thanks to early interventions and better understanding, people in and around California’s capital are getting diagnosed with autism. Attitudes towards autism are changing and many children and toddlers are finding themselves involved in autism therapy at a young age.
Children as young as 18 months can be diagnosed with autism, and it is important for their families to seek support for them as soon as possible. The earlier the diagnosis of autism, the more time they have for identifying their child’s learning methods and potential social challenges. It is recommended that even if a child is still a toddler, they start some sort of autism therapy as soon as there is a diagnosis.
One of the most trusted therapies for people with autism of any age is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. If your toddler has been diagnosed with autism, you can investigate ABA for toddlers. Sacramento families have seen how ABA works for their children of all ages. Here’s why ABA works so well for toddlers, and how to find the best ABA therapist in the area.
How does ABA work when it comes to toddlers?
ABA therapy for a toddler usually starts with an accredited ABA therapist trying to establish a connection with your child through play in order to build a relationship based on trust. These first few ABA therapy sessions are called “pairing” in ABA for toddlers. Sacramento therapists use this method to build a rapport with your child and learn what activities and toys they might enjoy the best.
Pairing is an important step in the process. It helps identify what may be a reinforcer for your youngster’s behaviors in the future. Access to these reinforcers can help your therapist and your family gain instructional control over your toddler’s therapy plan. In short, pairing helps to find out what can make therapy enjoyable for your child.
Once your child is comfortable with their ABA therapist and the plan, the hard work can begin. Goals that have been established by their therapy team can start being worked toward.
One reason that ABA is so popular for toddlers is that once those goals are reached, new ones can be added to build on that growth. Not only will the ABA therapist work with your child on a one-on-one basis, but they will also be able to create opportunities for them to interact with other children their age. This could be another crucial step in the therapy plan, helping your toddler to develop social skills
If your child has autism and ABA therapy seems like a good idea for them, starting can be as simple as a web search from your phone or computer. There are so many great therapists in the Sacramento area and finding them is as easy as searching, “ABA clinics near me Sacramento” to find a top-notch ABA care center for your toddler.
Source: social skills in autism
