Raising a child with autism disorder can be overwhelming for parents. Taking your child to see an ABA therapist working in one of the Chicago ABA Therapy Centers may be the solution but new location, new tools, unfamiliar people, and ABA procedures can be difficult to handle for a child at times.
Therefore, some professionals suggest in-home ABA therapy. However, in-home ABA therapy is only recommended after careful analysis of a child. Not every child needs it as some can handle the intensive treatment in ABA Centers.
Here, we will be taking a look at some benefits of in-home ABA therapy for your child.
A Convenient Option for You and Your Child
Normally, you would have to take your child to an ABA therapy center, but with in-home ABA therapy, the therapist will come to your house to have a session with your child. This option seems convenient for those who have busy schedules and can’t make time for therapy appointments with their child. Parents can set a time that doesn’t interrupt their busy calendar and they can be home when their child is being treated.
Also, at home, a child would be less stressed and feel at ease with the ABA therapist.
Addressing Certain Behaviors in Familiar Setting
A home is a comfortable place for children. They feel at ease and due to their ease, they may show certain behaviors that they don’t usually show when they are outside.
These behaviors don’t have to be weird; they are simple tasks like dressing up, toileting, bedtime routine, dining routine, and then night routine.
Some of these behaviors are learned through ABA therapies and at home, these behaviors can be addressed in more casual and effective ways. The ABA therapist can observe the child in his/her natural habitat and then design therapy programs that fit a child’s needs.
At the therapy center, some children get irritated and show discomfort through various things but at home, they tend to show their real selves. It is natural for kids to be scared or distracted in an unfamiliar place.
In-home ABA therapy makes the therapist’s job easier and enhances the chances of real progress among children with autism disorder.
Apart from the familiar setting at home, kids have their family members at home with them that also gives them a feeling of security.
Generalization Can be Achieved Quickly With In-home ABA Therapy
The goal of ABA therapy is to allow the child to learn basics in their natural environment. Let’s say you want to teach your child to wash hands after using the bathroom, but you teach them through the faucet available in your therapy class.
That may not work for a child with autism. What if they have a different bathroom faucet at home? There will be a conflict and it can cause ambiguities while understanding. Therefore, conducting ABA therapy in the child’s natural environment will help them learn and develop basic skills easily. At home, they will learn such skills quickly.
Once a child develops basic skills and gains confidence, they can utilize these skills at their school, playground, or other places outside of their home.
Home Environment Reinforces Learned Behavior
If you want to teach something to kids, reinforcements are necessary. Reinforcers play a vital part in behavior analysis and during ABA therapy, you would be needing a lot of them.
There are a few things that can really motivate children such as candy, toys, playtime, and so many other things. Well, during in-home ABA therapy, you can use toys, playtime, candy, and even some other cool activities as reinforcements. Using reinforcements can increase the likelihood of desired behavior.
Family Involvement Fosters Confidence and Trust
By having in-home ABA therapy sessions at home, all family members can work closely with a therapist.
Why is this important?
Family involvement is essential for several reasons. First, they can keep track of their child’s progress (which is extremely important). You can have one-to-one open communication with the therapist.
It also provides an opportunity for a therapist to talk to the child’s siblings and friends. With this data at hand, a therapist can create a more actionable and personalized plan that not only will improve a child’s social skills but also help with inappropriate behaviors (which is very common in ASD children).
