Behavioral Autism Program Yields Results
Published: April 30. 2010 Erie Times-News
By:THOMAS P. KITCHEN
Contributing writer
Behavioral Autism Program Yields Results
It was 3 a.m. when the words came: "Daddy, I'm sick."
The 4-year-old boy who muttered those words of distress had only a minor tummy ache, and his parents knew it was nothing serious. Nonetheless, they both began to cry.
Counter to what most people might have thought, their tears were ones of joy, not ones of concern. Why? Because this was the very first time in their son's entire life that he spontaneously shared with them any kind of emotion, pain or need for help. It was one of the very first times they knew their research, hard work and consistency had truly paid off.
Their little boy finally told them he needed them.
Their son has autism, a disorder of the brain that is signified by impairments in understanding or producing communication; impairments in engaging in social interactions; and behavioral symptoms that lead to repetitive, stereotypic or restricted patterns of activities or interests.
It is a "spectrum disorder," meaning that individuals may be affected more or less severely by its symptoms. Latest figures from the National Institutes of Health indicate that up to one in 110 children are affected in some way.
A year and a half before this night, the little boy would have been considered on the very severe end of the autism spectrum, with no ability to speak, no real social skills and many behaviors that made him stand out, such as hand-flapping or making bizarre and repetitive noises. And the tantrums. These were possibly some of the most concerning of his behaviors, as he could scream and cry for hours on end if things didn't go exactly as he planned.
But tonight, he was communicating. He was sincere. And he was independently reaching out for comfort. His parents weren't sure if they would ever see the day when this would happen. But this was only one of a multitude of triumphs.
In the year before, their son had learned how to say at least 1,200 words. He knew all of his family members and he played games with his sister and parents. He was more like most little boys than he was different. And the tantrums were almost gone. He was happy.
How did he get to this point? As soon as they learned of his diagnosis, his parents decided they were going to seek therapy for him. Their research led them to Applied Behavior Analysis. In the case of autism, the research showed that the way their son was going to learn enough to even come close to "catching up" was by committing to hours of fun but intense teaching sessions, carried out by everyone in his life, including his therapists and parents.
Every moment was viewed as a teachable moment. Most importantly, his progress was tracked every step of the way through data collection and analysis, so that he could move forward as quickly as possible, and so that problems could be "nipped" as quickly as possible after they arose.
This boy is not alone. The National Standards Project, through the National Autism Center, recently conducted the largest evidence-based-practice study to date with regard to autism interventions, and concluded that ABA had the most scientific evidence for its use. Though it is considered the "gold standard" treatment, it is not a magic pill. It is a long-term commitment to create opportunities for learning and practice, and rewards for a job well done.
There are hundreds of techniques associated with ABA, so parents need to find professionals who are well-versed in the implementation of the science to guide them along the way. Those who are typically most qualified are Board Certified Behavior Analysts who have achieved national certification to design and implement effective programming.
Erie is lucky to house one of western Pennsylvania's only graduate programs that is approved to provide preparation for clinicians to sit for the board exam. It is at Mercyhurst College and is a joint venture between the college and the Lake Erie Autism Diagnostic, Educational and Research Services program at the Achievement Center. The only other regional program is offered at the main campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition to providing training for these professionals, the Achievement Center provides this cutting-edge therapy for children and their families locally, regionally and nationwide.
Even given the best interventions, all children are unique and will achieve different outcomes. However, we feel inspired to have seen so many children, firsthand, provide great emotional victories. Strong families, strong commitment to evidence-based practice, hard work and expert guidance have provided the springboard to independence and communication for so many.
THOMAS P. KITCHEN is co-director of the Lake Erie Autism Diagnostic, Education and Research Services program at the Achievement Center in Erie.