Fostering A Positive Environment
Hand Over Hand Behavioral Consultants, LLC, fosters a nurturing environment by understanding the individual needs of the children we serve. We use evidence-based techniques to ensure optimal progress towards therapy goals. Intensive one-on-one therapy has consistently been shown to be the most effective method for helping children with neurodevelopmental disorders improve across a number of functional domains. Every member of our professional team has been trained to adapt and modify interventions and goals to fit the needs of your child. We view your child as a unique individual with their own set of strengths, and worthy of our best work to ensure they meet their potential.
Why ABA?
Professionals who practice Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) use techniques based on established principles of learning to create behavior change. The goals of ABA are to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree. To accomplish this, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) identify goals that enable a child to be successful in their environment and employ interventions to help the child reach those goals. Interventions used are based on rigorously tested methods to create behavior change and learning. Skills are acquired through the systematic teaching of component behaviors. These techniques ensure that objective learning is occurring. The other thing that makes ABA so effective is the use of data to analyze program effectiveness. The BCBA uses data taken during sessions to assess the child’s rate of learning. This not only allows the BCBA to make modifications if necessary, but also ensures that decisions are based on actual observed behavior. Weekly assessment of each child’s data safeguards against ineffective techniques and ensures that the most effective interventions are used. ABA has been demonstrated to be the most reliable evidence-based therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Evidence Base For ABA
In 2015, the National Standards Project Phase 2 released a comprehensive list of evidence-based treatments for teaching skills and reducing aberrant behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to the study, 14 interventions were identified as effective in addressing symptoms related to the core deficits observed in individuals with ASD. All 14 of the interventions were based on ABA theory and practice. All other interventions, many of which are currently promoted as ASD treatments, fell under the category of emerging or unestablished. Furthermore, many studies have sought to report the differential effects of ABA compared to eclectic models (Eikeseth et al., 2002; Eldevik et al., 2009; Howard et al., 2004). Howard and colleagues (2004) observed significantly greater gains in all the skill areas for children who received ABA. Other studies have shown that the intensity of therapy, or the number of therapy hours, affects outcomes. A study conducted by Granpeesheh and colleagues (2009) revealed that the number of hours per month significantly predicted child outcomes. In addition, they observed that children who started ABA earlier had more positive outcomes. The authors stated that:
These data indicate that for children between 2 and 7 years of age, there was a significant increase in new skill acquisition with increased treatment hours. Further, there was no point of diminishing returns
(Granpeesheh et al., 2009)
These studies demonstrate the reliability and efficacy of ABA in helping to improve symptoms of ASD. They also note the importance of intensive and early intervention.
