Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy, is the most effective form of autism therapy for children of all ages. Whether your family is accessing ABA autism services for the first time, or your child has been receiving services for several years, the ABA assessment process can be confusing and daunting. Today, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about functional skill and communication assessments for autism.
When Should My Child Receive An ABA Assessment?
At Trumpet, the assessment techniques for treating behavioral issues associated with autism are ongoing so your clinical team can constantly access your child’s skills. Frequent assessments give the therapy team more opportunities to gauge your child’s progress, analyze data, and make program modifications to help your child reach their goals. Typically, you can expect an ABA assessment during the following times:
- At the start of services
- Every 3-6 months during service
- After life-changing events, like the COVID-19 quarantine
What Is An Autism Assessment Like?
During an autism assessment, your therapy team will observe your child’s behavior to determine why they are acting in a certain way. We conduct specific, evidence-based assessments for certain skills and problem behaviors, including a functional assessment process to identify the function and optimal treatment. By determining the function of your child’s behavior, whether it be to gain attention, to avoid something, or to receive a preferred activity or item, your therapy team can put together an individualized ABA therapy plan that addresses your child’s specific needs. Trumpet therapists will also identify times, events, and situations that may trigger problem behavior.
READ MORE: Functional Skills Assessments for Children with Autism
Trumpet also includes other components in the assessment process to improve the family experience and the quality of our programming, including:
- A treatment acceptability survey: This survey helps our team learn more about your family and helps us align our programming with your values and goals.
- Review of client rights and protections:We want to make sure you feel completely confident in our ABA programming, which is why we review your intake paperwork with you and go over your rights and protections as a client. During this meeting, we also outline the scope of treatment, obtain necessary consents for services, and identify the specific needs of your family, including cultural considerations, parent engagement preferences, and what graduation from services looks like.
Schedule an Autism Assessment Near You
The ABA assessment is an important component of autism treatment. At Trumpet, we’re here to help our families navigate through the process. As your partner, we’ll work with your family to perform each assessment, create individualized treatment plans, and help your loved one reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more!