Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals

Rating:
Summary: The bible for Homebased ABA programs that are parent run
Review: This is an edited book that has a stellar cast of scholars who wrote the various chapters on treating autism. Each chapter covers basic issues and has very solidly grounded in the research recommendations for interventions. The bottom line is that there is not another treatment approach with the research consistently supporting its efficacy besides Applied Behavior Analysis. If you can afford only one book to help your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or student this should be the book. All the material in this book conforms to the standards as recently set by the National Academy of Sciences on Educating Children with Autism in their book of the same title. While ABA costs more than many alternatives the terrible truth is that the research doesn't support the efficacy of many of them and some are dangerous (despite being inexpensive). The bottom line is that if your child has autism then early, focused, and behavioral intervention is the best hope you have of them getting better - period. That may sound inflexible but the frank truth is that science isn't always warm and fuzzy and the truth can be a real hard task master. Diets? No evidence. Minerals? no evidence. Secretin - the various federally funded double-blind studies show that it does not do a thing - period. Sound intolerant - tough. Hard work and lots of it are what make the lives of autistic children better, not promises, stories, ancedotes, or snake oil (and there are lots of people out there selling each both cheaply and dearly)!

Rating:
Summary: Still one of the best books to own on Autism!
Review: This is an edited book that has a stellar cast of scholars who wrote the various chapters on treating autism. Each chapter covers basic issues and has very solidly grounded in the research recommendations for interventions. The bottom line is that there is not another treatment approach with the research consistently supporting its efficacy besides Applied Behavior Analysis. If you can afford only one book to help your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or student this should be the book. All the material in this book conforms to the standards as recently set by the National Academy of Sciences on Educating Children with Autism in their book of the same title. While ABA costs more than many alternatives the terrible truth is that the research doesn't support the efficacy of many of them and some are dangerous (despite being inexpensive). The bottom line is that if your child has autism then early, focused, and behavioral intervention is the best hope you have of them getting better - period. That may sound inflexible but the frank truth is that science isn't always warm and fuzzy and the truth can be a real hard task master. Diets? No evidence. Minerals? no evidence. Secretin - the various federally funded double-blind studies show that it does not do a thing - period. Sound intolerant - tough. Hard work and lots of it are what make the lives of autistic children better, not promises, stories, ancedotes, or snake oil (and there are lots of people out there selling each both cheaply and dearly)!

Rating:
Summary: If you are considering doing an ABA program get this book!
Review: This is the book to get if you are considering running an intensive one on one program for your developmentally delayed child. From the science of ABA to the application of ABA, this book gives a solid outline. From the selection of tutors and consultants to obtaining funding, this book offers "how to" information. Part 2 Chapters include: Evaluating Claims about Treatments for Autism, Early Behavioral Intervention for Autism: What Does research Tell Us?, Are Other Treatments Effective?. Part 3 is What to Teach. Part 4 is How to Teach. Part 5 is Who Should Teach. Part 6 is Organizing and Funding. Part 7 is Working with an SLP. Part 8 Working with the Schools. Part 9 From the Front Lines:Parent's Questions, Parent's Voices. This section includes 4 childrens' stories. Is ABA successful in teaching 90% of children with Autism? You bet! In fact 40%+ will reach a point where they no longer fit the criteria for PDD or Autism. IQ scores increase. Autistic behavior is reduced. Attention is increased. Learning takes place. Is running a home ABA program time consuming and expensive? Yes it is time consuming and if you have to pay for it yourself it can be costly. Is it worth it? Yes. My 3 year old son now speaks in full sentences, has increased his IQ 20+ points, has reduced his autistic behaviors, is potty trained, dresses himself, reads books by himself, etc. This was all accomplished through positive reinforcement. No aversives were used. If you still have questions about ABA go to

Rating:
Summary: Construct of language
Review: When my son was diagnosed with a severe communication disorder at age three by a neurologist, and PDD by a pediatrician, and "educationally autistic" by an OT in the public school system, it began a long journey into night, or so it seemed. Many disciplines involved in autism do not agree with ABA. I think it depends on the "teachers" involved, their personalities and ability to work with your child. As in any teaching, patience goes a LONG way. I found this book very helpful, I would spend about an hour or more a day working with my son,going through the list, finding out where he was, and where he needed to go. I think besides the biological manifestations,autism is basically a communication disorder and a lot of frustration for our children builds on that simple idea...that a lot of the behavioral problems come from the inability to communicate. My son is now in the regular classroom without an aide, surviving, but coming across this book makes me think I should get ahold of it again, and just keep plugging away, because it was unbelievably geared to the communication difficulties that our kids have.

God bless each of you, parents and children, and may the road rise up to meet you.

Rating:
Summary: Construct of language
Review: When my son was diagnosed with a severe communication disorder at age three by a neurologist, and PDD by a pediatrician, and "educationally autistic" by an OT in the public school system, it began a long journey into night, or so it seemed. Many disciplines involved in autism do not agree with ABA. I think it depends on the "teachers" involved, their personalities and ability to work with your child. As in any teaching, patience goes a LONG way. I found this book very helpful, I would spend about an hour or more a day working with my son,going through the list, finding out where he was, and where he needed to go. I think besides the biological manifestations,autism is basically a communication disorder and a lot of frustration for our children builds on that simple idea...that a lot of the behavioral problems come from the inability to communicate. My son is now in the regular classroom without an aide, surviving, but coming across this book makes me think I should get ahold of it again, and just keep plugging away, because it was unbelievably geared to the communication difficulties that our kids have.

God bless each of you, parents and children, and may the road rise up to meet you.

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