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Can the principles of applied behavior analysis be used to toilet train a child with an autism spectrum disorder? Answered by Frank Cicero, PhD Director of Psychological Services at Eden II Programs Here is the good news…children with autism can be toilet trained through the exact same methods that are used with typically-developing children. And…
I am a behavior analyst working with an 18-month-old recently diagnosed with autism. Do you have any suggestions on how to work with such a young client? Answered by Peggy Halliday, MEd, BCBA, Virginia Institute of Autism and Tristram Smith, PhD, University of Rochester Medical Center By now most of us have become familiar with…
I am a behavior analyst working with a 6-year-old child with a very limited food repertoire. Do you have any assessment and treatment recommendations that can guide my efforts to address this area? Answered by Jill K. Belchic-Schwartz, PhD Pediatric/Child Psychologist, Childhood Solutions, PC, Fort Washington, PA Food selectivity is a fairly common issue with…
Why is early detection and treatment important? How can this be accomplished? Answered by Angela Smith, MA, BCBA Early detection of autism is essential in gaining access to treatment at the earliest point possible. With the rise in the incidence of autism, more and more families are faced with the challenge of accessing intervention programs…
My daughter with autism was very resistant during her first dental visit. Are there any steps we can take to help her tolerate a dental exam? We were actively involved in her home-based early intervention program for the last two years and have a working knowledge of ABA. Our daughter’s program is overseen by a…
I am a parent of an adolescent with autism who is urine trained but continues to have bowel accidents. What treatment strategies can I use to begin bowel training with him? Answered by Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA-D Director of Psychological Services Eden II Programs Lingering issues with bowel training are common in individuals with autism, even…
My son has bolted out of the house on a few occasions. Aside from street traffic, I am also concerned about my neighbor’s pool. What steps can I take? Answered by Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D and Kate E. Cerino Britton, MSEd, MA BCBA, Alpine Learning Group You are not alone. In fact, according to an…
How Can Adolescent Learners with Autism be Prepared for Employment? Answered by Erin Richard, MA, BCBA and Karissa Masuicca, MS Ed, BCBA Alpine Learning Group, Inc., Paramus, New Jersey Preparing adolescents with autism for future employment is important. It is essential to shift the focus of programming from academics to more functional life skills and…
How do I explain my decision to use science-based treatments for autism when friends and relatives often insist I try something new? Answered by David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Pamela F. Feliciano, PhD Association for Science in Autism Treatment We certainly respect any individual’s right to his or her own opinion, and certainly for parents…
My son, who has been diagnosed with autism, has been struggling with self-injury. His doctor is considering whether medication could help. What can I do to prepare for this conversation? Answered by Megan Atthowe, Megan Atthowe, MSN, RN, BCBA Former ASAT Board Member First, you should know that there is no medication that specifically treats…
Written by David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D and Denise Lorelli, MS Association for Science in Autism Treatment Yes, sadly it can happen. With 500+ purported treatments for autism, there is no shortage of so called “treatments” whose name begins with some activity, substance, or favorite pastime and ends in the word “therapy.” A cursory internet search…