Understanding and managing changes in behavior is essential for caregivers of autistic children. By identifying triggers and implementing effective strategies, such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement, you can help autistic children learn to identify their triggers, self-regulate, and thrive.

Causes of Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children

It’s unreasonable to expect a child to be happy and well-behaved all the time. Every child needs to be given the freedom to feel, express, and understand their emotions; it’s a part of growing up. So, from time to time, outbursts or moments of disobedience are bound to happen. When you’re raising an autistic child, however, these instances tend to happen a lot more frequently. 

Knowing what is causing these sudden changes in behavior and finding the best ways to manage them can make the at-home situation a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved. It can also give your child valuable coping skills to take out into the world. 

This blog explores how you can identify your autistic child’s triggers, implement effective strategies to minimize them (such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement), and how these measures can help your child learn how to spot their own triggers, self-regulate, and thrive in their daily life. 

Examples of Challenging Behavior from Autistic Children

The reason autism is considered a spectrum disorder is that it encompasses a wide range of symptoms and behaviors that can vary greatly from one individual to another. Every autistic child is unique, and so are their behaviors, strengths, and challenges. 

Challenging behaviors in autistic children often arise as a means of communication, coping mechanism, or response to environmental factors. So, it’s important to remember that these behaviors are not always intentional acts of defiance from your child but rather expressions of unmet needs or difficulties in communicating their feelings or processing the world around them.

Autistic children may exhibit a range of challenging behaviors that can vary in frequency and intensity. While the specific behaviors can differ from child to child, some common examples include:

• Tantrums and meltdowns: Intense emotional outbursts, often in response to sensory overload, changes in routine, or frustration due to communication difficulties. 
• Stimming: Self-stimulatory behaviors, or stimming, are repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning that help autistic children self-soothe. These behaviors are usually harmless, but they can interfere with your child’s ability to engage with others or focus on specific tasks. 
• Aggression: It’s not uncommon for autistic children to exhibit aggressive behaviors, such as hitting, biting, or scratching, as a way of expressing discomfort, frustration, or pain. 
• Self-injury: If an autistic child is feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated and unable to communicate their needs effectively, it can result in them turning their aggression inward and engaging in harmful behaviors like head-banging, biting, or scratching themselves. 
• Withdrawal: Social situations can be difficult for autistic children, so many of them have a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. They prefer to be alone, so they isolate or avoid eye contact and physical touch, making it challenging to build relationships and engage in social activities.

Understanding the link between autism and behavior issues and taking the time to identify what is triggering them in your child is the first step in developing strategies and techniques that can help you support and nurture them. Recognizing that these behavioral changes are often a form of communication — or rather frustration due to difficulty communicating — can help you approach them with empathy and patience.

What Are Some Causes of Behavioral Change in Autistic Children?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others, perceive themselves, and interpret the world around them. Autistic adults and children often experience heightened sensory sensitivities, process information differently, and approach social interactions more cognitively than intuitively. 

For children with ASD, sudden behavior changes can be triggered by sensory overload, changes in their daily routine as well as certain medical conditions. By understanding what the potential triggers are, caregivers can effectively implement strategies to manage behavior and support their autistic child through challenging moments. 

What Triggers Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children?

The behavior of autistic children can vary widely, as each child’s experience exists on the broad behavioral spectrum of autism. However, there are certain factors that can commonly trigger changes in behavior. 

1. Sensory Issues

Sensory processing issues are common among most autistic children. They may be highly sensitive (hypersensitive) or under-responsive (hyposensitive) to light, sound, taste, touch, and smell. 

For example, a child can become overwhelmed in a crowded, bright, and noisy environment, resulting in a meltdown or shutdown. Or, they may seek intense sensory experiences, like spinning or rocking, in order to self-regulate. These sensory differences can significantly affect their emotional state and how they behave.  

2. Changes in Routine

Autistic children often thrive on predictability and routine. This means that they do best when they know what to expect day to day. Any changes, sometimes even minor ones, to their daily schedules or environment can be distressing and lead to behavioral changes. 

3. Medical Conditions

Some autistic children may have specific underlying medical conditions that contribute to behavioral changes. For instance, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, or sleep disorders may cause discomfort and impact their behavior negatively. 

4. Communication Difficulties

Communication difficulties can also be a great challenge for some autistic children. They may have difficulty understanding or using language. They could even struggle to focus and communicate effectively due to the sensory issues discussed above. Understandably, not being able to communicate can lead to frustration and result in challenging behaviors, such as self-injury, tantrums, and aggression. 

5. Social Challenges

Social challenges can also be a source of stress and the cause of behavioral issues for autistic children, since they may have difficulty understanding subtle social cues, micro-expressions, and emotions, as well as any form of nonverbal communication. These challenges can be incredibly frustrating and isolating for the child.  

In social settings, autistic children may engage in repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors as a coping mechanism. They may also withdraw from social interaction altogether to avoid the complex and uncomfortable dance of human interaction. 

Recognizing Triggers

Recognizing triggers is the key to effectively managing the behavioral health of autistic children. Caregivers should pay close attention and take note of any specific circumstances or events that precede unhealthy, inappropriate, or challenging behaviors.  

Once the potential triggers have been identified, caregivers and parents can work on creating tailored strategies to minimize or avoid those behaviors and responses altogether, as well as teach new skills to support their child. 

Effective Strategies for Managing Behavioral Changes

Dealing with sudden behavior changes in autistic children calls for a holistic approach, one that considers the context, unique needs, and challenges of that particular child.  

As caregivers face inappropriate or challenging behaviors, having the right strategies becomes crucial when supporting the child’s development and well-being. 

Positive Behavior Support

Positive Behavior Support, or PBS, is a systematic approach to managing behavior that focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. PBS can be highly effective in reducing challenging behaviors and improving the child’s ability to function effectively. 

Visual Schedules

Visual schedules can help ground children in predictability by creating structure. This helps to reduce anxiety and prevent potential meltdowns. Creating a visual schedule can be as simple as a picture chart that shows the child what activities they will be doing throughout the day or more complex, such as a digital schedule that shows the child the time and location of each activity. 

Sensory Breaks

Sensory breaks can provide autistic children with a healthy way to self-regulate and calm down when they’re feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Sensory breaks can include activities such as listening to music, doing breathing exercises, or simply sitting in a peaceful place. Sensory supports are often recommended following an Occupational Therapist’s evaluation.  

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly effective intervention for addressing skills deficits and socially impactful behaviors of people, including children with autism. It focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. ABA programs also incorporate aspects of PBS and parent training.   

Caregiver and Parent Training

Training caregivers and parents of autistic children can be critical to managing behavioral changes and issues in these children because it can teach caregivers how to use the appropriate strategies to manage their child’s behavior. Importantly, it also provides much-needed support and resources to help guardians and caregivers cope with the complexities of raising an autistic child in a neurotypical world. 

Managing Autism and Sudden Behavior Changes With the Lighthouse Autism Center

For parents and caregivers, sudden behavior changes in their autistic children can be distressing. However, by learning how to deal with autism and behavior challenges effectively, they can profoundly affect the well-being of their autistic child. 

LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, along with its extensive archive, offers valuable autism resources for parents and caregivers of autistic children. Armed with knowledge and tailored strategies, caregivers can create a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters growth and empowers their autistic child to thrive.

Creating a safe home for an autistic child is essential. We look at some of the safety and security considerations and other tips for making a safe home.

Tips for Child-Proofing and Keeping Your House Safe for an Autistic Child

Household safety is one of the primary concerns of all parents. This concern tends to escalate when babies start to crawl around the house, and baby-proofing the home becomes a priority for parents.  

Home safety for an autistic child comes with the same concerns. However, unique risks also mean that typical house safety concerns can become more serious, based on your child’s individual nature. 

In this article, we are going to look at the unique challenges in creating an autism-friendly house, why autistic children may need extra home security, and how to appropriately child-proof your home for your autistic child. 

Why Is Child-Proofing the Home a Challenge for Autistic Children?

When you’re researching tips for ASD, you’ll notice that safety is always a focal point. While all parents are constantly working to make sure that their children are cared for and safe, ensuring the safety of your autistic child at home requires a few additional steps and special considerations. 

Child-proofing can be particularly challenging for parents or caregivers with an autistic child. Autistic children tend to fixate on certain items or display sensory-seeking behaviors. They could fixate on a dangerous item, or their fixation could simply leave them unaware of the possible dangers around them. Additionally, some autistic children have a propensity to try to elope or run from their homes on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. 

As a result of this, typical safe-proofing concerns can become more serious depending on what your child is interested in. Some of the biggest concerns can include: 

• Sensory fixation on water, fire, fans, or other items. 
• Accessing dangerous items like medications, sharp objects, chemicals, and electrical outlets. 
• Climbing on furniture and then jumping, falling, or having the furniture fall on them. 
• Leaving the house through a window or door without someone knowing. 

Even with these challenges, creating an autism-friendly home can be a simple and extremely beneficial process if you know what to do. 

Make Home a Safe Space

All of the best safety precautions and autism decorating ideas in the world aren’t going to matter if the environment your child is in doesn’t feel safe, too. It’s important to foster a calm environment at home so everyone feels comfortable and relaxed. This can significantly reduce instances of overstimulation, anxiety, or disruptive behavior. A few ways you can do this are:

1. De-Clutter

Start by minimizing clutter as much as possible. Try to keep surfaces clear and organized, and use storage solutions to keep any toys, books, and other items out of sight when they are not in use. A clutter-free space is less likely to cause a sensory overload.

2. Use Calming Colors

Colors can profoundly affect our emotions and behaviors. Certain colors can be particularly soothing or stimulating for autistic children. To create a peaceful atmosphere, try incorporating soft, neutral tones like pastels, blues, greens, and earthy shades into your home. While you’re doing this, make sure you involve your child in the decoration choices. This can help them feel more in control of the situation and can give you a better idea of what colors they like or don’t like. 

3. Incorporate Natural Elements

Introduce elements of nature into your home, such as potted plants, natural light, and nature-inspired decor. Nature has a way of grounding us, so these elements can have a calming effect and help create a soothing environment.

4. Create a Sense of Calm With Soft Lighting

Try to avoid harsh, bright lights. Instead, use soft, diffused lighting with dimmer switches or lamps. You could even consider using string lights or salt lamps for a gentle, calming glow. Some calming music can also be a great way to help your child relax and refocus.

5. Incorporate Familiarity

Make sure to keep your child’s favorite toys, blankets, and other comfort items easily accessible. Familiar objects can provide a sense of security and comfort in your child’s environment. Having access to familiar items can help your child feel more at ease and provide a sense of stability in their surroundings.

Use Home Safety as a Learning Opportunity

The first step to creating a safe environment for an autistic child is to use your home as a learning environment. While removing your child from dangerous situations is important, it’s also a good idea to teach them home safety like you would any other skill.  

Use positive reinforcement when your child performs a home safety skill correctly or when they refrain from doing something that you’ve taught them is unsafe. Remember to keep home safety steps short and simple. 

You can use the usual tools that would be used in a therapy session or when teaching them skills at home, such as visual rules, checklists, signs, stories, and schedules. Choose whatever it is that your child has had success with in other settings in the past.  

Some ideas for ASD-friendly elements in your home include: 

Label Everyday Items

When you want to child-proof a home for an autistic child, using visual aids like photos, words, colors, and textures to label everyday appliances, furniture, rooms, drawers, etc., can be very beneficial. Labels will help your child to more easily associate the items with where they go or what their purpose is. Labels also increase the likelihood of your child using something for its intended purpose and discourage unsafe behaviors. 

Create Visual Boundaries and Limits

Telling your child not to walk out the front door isn’t always enough. Using visuals can help you relay the message more clearly. For example, you could place stop signs on doors that lead outside or to stairs or on drawers that they shouldn’t open. Or you could mark the floor around hazardous furniture with painter’s tape to show the areas where they shouldn’t walk. 

Keep Things Organized and in place

Autistic children are often creatures of habit and structure. Keeping things tidy and in their place means children will know where to find things and where to put them once they are done. This will lead to less frustration, thereby reducing outbursts and making them less likely to engage in unsafe or disruptive behaviors. 

Home Modifications for Autistic Children

If you’re wondering how to make your home autism-friendly, here are some of the modifications that you can make:  

• Move furniture away from where kids could climb it. Instead, invest in sensory-appropriate climbing furniture products to encourage safer behaviors.  
• Ensure that all furniture is mounted to the floor or wall. 
• Use gates and barriers at the top and bottom of stairs to keep your children from climbing them or potentially falling down them. 
• Put all medications and unsafe items out of reach. 
• Put rubber bumpers on the sharp edges of counters or furniture. 
• Hide wires or place them out of reach. 
• Lock away cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other products that contain hazardous chemicals. 
• Educate your child about fire safety through stories about smoke detectors and safety routines. Lock away all matches and lighters. 
• Put covers on electrical outlets and protection on door knobs, cabinet handles, faucets, etc. 
• Add sensors to areas that your child should not be in, so you are aware of where they are in your home. 

Home Security

As mentioned, some autistic children are known to try to wander off and leave their houses, so home security is another aspect to consider if you have an autistic child. This can include: 

Install Locks and Sensors

Install locks or sensors on the home’s doors, windows, and cabinets. Autistic children are resourceful, so investing in a high-quality locking system is worth it. It is even possible to get special autism safety door locks. 

Safely Store Away Potentially Hazardous Items

Lock and store potential hazards like paint, fertilizer, and cleaners somewhere out of your child’s day-to-day environment, such as the garage or basement. 

Install Sensory-Friendly Alarms

Install alarms on their bedroom door, doors leading outside, and windows. Of course, keep in mind that a blaring alarm could be intolerable for a child with sensory issues. Usually, the alarm can be tailored to your child’s specific needs. 

Explain “Stranger Danger”

Chances are that your child will open the door when it rings at some stage in their life. It’s important to teach them the importance of learning who they can trust and the dangers of opening the door to strangers. Allistic (non-autistic) children are more likely to be able to read people’s intentions, whereas autistic children tend to be naturally trusting. This is an important lesson they can take into adulthood, too. 

Always Have An Emergency Plan in Place

It’s critical that you have an emergency plan in place should something happen. The first port of call should always be to phone 911 and alert the appropriate authorities. All of the relevant emergency numbers should also be easily accessible. Display them in an easy-to-reach area and keep them on hand around your house and in your vehicles. Providing your child a safety bracelet with their name and emergency contact details may also be useful. If they do not like the feeling of a bracelet, then provide a laminated card with emergency contact numbers for them to keep at all times or label each piece of their clothing with the same information. 

If your child has a history of elopement or unsafe behaviors in the home, contact your local police department so they know who your child is, where you live, what your child might do, and where they might go based on past experiences. It is always easier to communicate this information proactively, rather than in a crisis situation.  

Create a Quiet Space for Your Autistic Child at Home

When you’re creating a home for an autistic child, remember that they are more likely to act out when they become overstimulated. When this happens, they will need a safe time-out space to calm down and refocus. 

Instead of punishing them with a time-out in a corner, create a dedicated quiet space where they can go to have time to themselves, enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, or engage in whatever self-soothing strategies work for them. If you continually direct them to this space when they get overstimulated, you teach them a better way to cope with and handle stress. Make the space soft, neutral, and welcoming with your child’s favorite toys. 

Get the Best for You and Your Child with LAC

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we equip our learners and their caretakers with the tools and strategies needed to enhance growth and development through our Lighthouse fusion ABA therapy. We also offer a wide array of the best autism resources and information for our clients to turn to in order to help your child take the important next step in their journey. or our clients to turn to and help your child take the important next step in their journey. 

Handling inappropriate behavior from autistic children can be challenging, especially in public settings. With the right strategies and understanding, it’s possible to effectively manage and address these behaviors in a way that supports the child’s needs and promotes their well-being.

How To Handle Socially Inappropriate Behavior in Public

Growing up, we are all taught what behavior is suitable for a public setting and what behavior isn’t. Proper manners, polite communication, and understanding social cues are ingrained in us from an early age. We’re told to say “please” and “thank you,” to wait our turns, to be mindful of others’ feelings, and we learn what behaviors are socially acceptable and which aren’t. While for allistic people, these lessons seem straightforward and soon become second nature, for autistic children, these seemingly straightforward expectations can become complex challenges. 

Autistic children experience the world differently. They are more sensitive to sensory input like loud noises, bright lights, and crowded spaces, and communication can often be a challenge. So, instances like outbursts or socially inappropriate behavior are common because their ways of coping with overwhelming situations are different. Even as caregivers, it is often difficult to differentiate between common autistic behaviors and misbehavior. 

With the right strategies and understanding of autistic behavior, challenging behaviors can be effectively identified, addressed, and managed. This guide will provide practical tips for parents, caregivers, and educators on navigating and supporting autistic children in public settings. 

Understanding Autism and Inappropriate Behavior

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive behaviors. Socially inappropriate behavior in autistic children may manifest in various forms. Some examples of inappropriate behavior include meltdowns, self-stimulatory behaviors, aggression, and non-compliance. It is essential to recognize that these behaviors are often communication tools used by the child to express their needs, discomfort, or anxiety and are not just naughtiness or misbehavior. 

Being able to recognize that these behaviors are often rooted in your child’s desire to communicate something to you can help you respond to these behaviors with more understanding, empathy, and patience. It shifts the perspective from viewing the behavior as a problem to understanding it as a signal that your child needs support. This not only makes dealing with challenging behavior more manageable in the moment but can help you identify common triggers.

When you understand what is causing the socially inappropriate behavior and respond with empathy and effective strategies, you can create a more supportive environment for your child to experience the world. Early intervention and consistent support can also significantly improve your child’s ability to navigate social situations and reduce the frequency and intensity of inappropriate behaviors in the future. 

Unique Challenges Faced by Autistic Children in Public Settings

Public settings can be overwhelming for an autistic child with behavioral problems due to sensory overload, unpredictable social interactions, and rigid expectations. These challenges can lead to heightened anxiety and an increased likelihood of exhibiting inappropriate social behaviors. It is crucial to consider these factors when addressing and managing their behavior. 

Here are some of the key challenges faced by autistic children. 

Sensory Overload

Public places can be overwhelming for autistic children due to increased sensory stimuli, such as loud noises, bright lights, crowded spaces, and unfamiliar smells. These sensory inputs can lead to sensory overload and trigger anxiety or meltdowns. 

Communication Barriers

Autistic children may have challenges with expressive and receptive communication skills. In public settings, they may struggle to express their needs, desires, or discomfort, leading to frustration or misunderstandings. There is also a link between autism and saying inappropriate things because they may not fully grasp social norms or the nuances of language.

Social Interactions

Engaging in social interactions can be challenging for autistic children. They may find it difficult to interpret social cues, understand non-verbal communication, or initiate and maintain conversations. This can result in feelings of isolation or difficulty making friends. 

Unpredictability and Changes

Public settings often involve unpredictable situations, such as unexpected changes in routines, transitions, or disruptions in the environment. Autistic children rely on structure and predictability, so these unexpected changes can cause anxiety and distress. 

Sensory Seeking or Avoidance Behaviors

Autistic children may exhibit sensory seeking or avoidance behaviors in public settings. Some may seek sensory input by engaging in repetitive movements or self-stimulatory (stimming) behaviors, while others may try to avoid certain sensory experiences by covering their ears, avoiding touch, or withdrawing from the environment. 

Lack of Understanding and Acceptance

The general public may not always understand or be accepting of autistic behavior. This can lead to judgment, stares, or comments from others, creating a challenging and potentially uncomfortable environment for both the child and their caregivers. 

Practical Strategies for Addressing Inappropriate Behavior

Handling autism and bad behavior requires patience, understanding, and a proactive approach. Here are some practical tips on how to prepare for, deal with, and avoid future socially inappropriate public behavior.  

Identify Triggers

Observe when and where challenging behaviors are most likely to occur. Recognize specific people, locations, times of the day, or sensory experiences that may contribute to the behaviors. Provide appropriate sensory tools or strategies, such as noise-canceling headphones or sensory breaks, to help them regulate their sensory input and prevent sensory overload. 

Teach Skills in Controlled Environments

Take advantage of situations outside of public settings to teach and reinforce socially appropriate behavior skills. Practice walking together, waiting in line, sharing toys, or tolerating transitions when demands are minimal. 

Communication and Social Skills Training

Teach the child alternative ways to express their needs and emotions through effective communication strategies. Social skills training can help them navigate social interactions more smoothly. 

Establish Clear Expectations

Set clear and consistent rules and routines, using visual supports such as visual schedules, videos, or social stories, to help the child understand what is expected of them in public settings. Visual cues can help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) understand expectations and provide a sense of structure and predictability. 

Prepare for Outings

Plan ahead by researching unfamiliar locations and communicating with staff or facility personnel about specific needs or challenges. Familiarize the individual with the environment through virtual tours, pictures, or videos. 

Gradual Exposure

Begin with short trips or visits to help the individual become familiar with new environments and social interactions. Bring along preferred toys or activities to provide comfort and enjoyment during outings. 

Incorporate Breaks and Sensory Regulation

Individuals with ASD may benefit from taking breaks or finding a calm space when engaging in activities outside their comfort zone. Establish a communication system to indicate the need for breaks or assistance. 

Redirect and Distract

If socially inappropriate behavior arises, gently redirect the child’s attention to a more appropriate activity or provide them with a sensory tool or object that can help redirect their focus. 

Stay Calm and Supportive

Knowing how to reduce aggressive behavior in an autistic child can be particularly difficult in the moment. Respond to challenging behaviors with patience and understanding. Remaining calm can help de-escalate the situation. Find a safe and quiet space if necessary, and consider involving supportive family members or friends for assistance. 

Calming Strategies

Teach the child calming techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or self-soothing strategies, to help them regulate their emotions and manage anxiety in public settings. 

Reinforcement and Positive Behavior Support

Implement a system of positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate behavior. Use praise, rewards, or a token system to reinforce desired behaviors, providing motivation and encouragement for the child. 

Advocate and Educate

Educate others about autism and the challenges faced by autistic children in public settings. Raise awareness by carrying a card explaining autism-related behaviors to share with others who may not understand. This can promote understanding and reduce potential misunderstandings or judgment. 

Seek Professional Support

Collaborate with professionals, such as behavioral therapists or occupational therapists, who can provide additional guidance and strategies tailored to the child’s specific needs. 

Collaborate with Lighthouse Autism Center

It is essential to remember that each autistic child is unique, and strategies should be tailored to their individual needs. LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, combined with its large archive of autism resources, is the perfect foundation on which to build an understanding of your autistic child’s needs. 

After an autism diagnosis, choosing the right ABA therapy center can feel overwhelming. This parent-focused guide breaks down what truly matters in quality autism care, helping you confidently evaluate ABA centers and make an informed decision about your child’s therapy.

Tips on How To Find the Best ABA Center for Your Autistic Child

If your child has received an autism diagnosis, you likely have countless questions about the best ways to support their development. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is one of the most commonly used, and widely recognized, therapeutic interventions for autistic people and those with other developmental challenges. It is based on the principles of behaviorism, so this approach uses positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior and introduces consequences to reduce challenging behaviors. 

Endorsed by medical professionals, including the U.S. Surgeon General, ABA therapy has helped countless families navigate their autism journey. But, to get the most out of this intervention, parents need to make sure they’re choosing the right center for autism and related disorders. 

Why ABA Therapy?

ABA services for autism are not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each plan is uniquely built around your child and the best approach for them. The process starts with an in-depth assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), who will take the time to learn about who your child is, their abilities, their challenges, and your family’s goals. Based on this assessment, they will then create a personalized treatment plan that changes and grows with your child. 

This approach is backed by science, but an important factor that helps make it so effective is collaboration. Your BCBA doesn’t work in isolation; they work with you, your family, your child’s teachers, and other support systems to help your child develop skills that can make a real difference in their everyday life. Whether it’s communicating better, building friendships, learning proper hygiene and self-care practices, or gaining more independence with daily tasks. 

This therapy also focuses on reducing challenging behaviors while promoting positive ones, all while adapting the approach to what works best for your child. If you’re considering ABA therapy for your child, choosing the right center is crucial for their success. Let’s explore what you should look for when you’re trying to find the best ABA therapy center.

 

Credentials and Certifications

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s extremely important to make sure that the people running the ABA program you’re looking into are properly certified. Two of the main certifications you should be looking out for are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). These credentials aren’t just fancy titles. They reflect years of education, rigorous training, and practical, hands-on experience that will be needed to develop and implement an effective treatment plan and help your child thrive. 

Your child’s progress depends heavily on having qualified ABA providers and medical professionals overseeing their care. A BCBA should be actively involved in developing and supervising your child’s treatment plan from day one. They’ll work closely with RBTs, who provide the day-to-day therapy under their supervision. It’s also worth asking how many cases your BCBA manages. They can be the best practitioner in the world, but it won’t help as much if they don’t have enough time to give your child’s program the attention it deserves.

Don’t hesitate to ask about the qualifications of everyone who will be working with your child. Quality ABA centers are always happy to share information about their team’s credentials and ongoing training programs. After all, your child’s development is too important to leave in the hands of any who are less than fully qualified professionals.

Customized Therapy Programs

No two children are exactly the same, right? Since this is true, it makes sense that no two children will have exactly the same therapy needs. They will have different behavior problems and will be behind in different developmental milestones. Therefore, ABA centers should never offer cookie-cutter therapy programs.

In designing an autism therapy program, the ABA center should perform a deep assessment of your child’s needs. An analysis of your child’s current skills will be produced from this assessment. Then, a board-certified professional will design a therapy program tailored to your child and their current skills. Additionally, the ABA center should be asking for parental input in the initial and ongoing assessment. Parents add value to the assessment by providing information about behaviors the child is showing and skills they are lacking. This is also a chance for parents to communicate the goals they have for their child. Goals can range from basic life skills like toilet training to more sophisticated skills like vocal communication.

Any worthwhile ABA center should be willing to create a unique therapy program to meet your child’s and family’s needs.

Formal Assessment Tools

Formal assessment tools, such as the VB-MAPP and AFLS should be used to evaluate the skill sets of an individual diagnosed with autism. They should be part of the foundation and structure of any great ABA curriculum.

The VB-MAPP is an assessment tool used to determine an individual’s social and early learner skills. VB-MAPP stands for Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program. Quality ABA centers use the VB-MAPP, or something similar, to assess a child’s skills and then guide the design of that child’s goals.

The AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills) is another assessment tool that could be used by an ABA center to assess your child’s needs. AFLS assesses the more practical, functional skills like toileting, dressing, basic communication, and self-management.

There are even more tools that ABA centers could be using, like the ABLLS and the Essentials for Living. These tools not only allow the therapy team to do an initial assessment of a child but they are also designed for continued monitoring and measurement of your child’s progress. The therapy team uses these tools to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy program and make changes as goals are reached or if certain approaches may work better than others.

Consider asking an ABA center if they are using these tools to initially evaluate and continually monitor their children. Without these tools and the data they provide, an ABA center would have far less visibility into your child’s needs and progress.

Programs Based on Data

Data is the lifeblood of any quality ABA program and guides the decision-making about your child’s therapy programs.

For example, when your child first comes to a center, they may spend 60 minutes of every day flopping on the floor and screaming. A proper ABA center should be tracking the amount of time your child engages in this behavior. Over time, it will become possible to see a trend in the frequency of problem behaviors from one day to the next. The therapy program supervisors will then use this daily/weekly trend to decide how well the intervention is working. Eventually, they’ll want to see the 60 minutes of daily tantrums become 30 or 15 minutes. This declining trend in tantrums could indicate that the program is working. 

On the flip side, if that 60 minutes of daily tantrums consistently stayed at 60 minutes over the course of several months, this might indicate that something about the therapy program wasn’t working. In the case of a program not working, the program supervisors should be able to re-examine the child’s behavior and shift the therapy program accordingly.

Consider asking the center for autism, “What kind of data do you use to track my child’s progress?” and “Can I see the data?”

Social Skills, Natural Environment Training, and Table Work

Every ABA therapy program should be based on three different components of ABA.

1. Social skills: The child should be learning social skills by communicating with the therapist, working on eye contact improvements, and socializing with other children at the center. To make sure your child is getting the right social skills training, you want to know that they will have appropriate peer groups of the same age. A 10-year-old will not gain as many social skills interacting with only 5-year-old children, as opposed to interacting with children their own age.
2. Natural environment training: Natural environment training involves using the principles of ABA therapy in natural environments or “the real world.” If your child only learned at a table in a therapy room, then they would have a harder time applying their teachings to other situations. By integrating therapy into “natural environments” like a kitchen, a bathroom, or even a playroom, your child becomes more equipped to use their new skills in the rest of the world and in your home.
3. Table work: Table work is the initial teaching arm of the therapy program. Table work provides an environment that is engineered to reduce distractions. The reduced-distraction environment of table work creates focused learning experiences for your child. Through table work, they will become more accustomed to the kind of setting they will experience in a regular classroom as well as at a desk job.

One-on-One Therapy

An intense ABA therapy program means there will be a lower ratio between therapists and children. Additionally, an intensive ABA therapy program should strive for a 1:1 ratio between therapists and children as much as possible.

A 1:1 ratio has a positive impact on implementing the therapy. With a 1:1 ratio, the therapist can be fully aware of all your child’s behaviors, struggles, triumphs, and skills.

Furthermore, the 1:1 ratio also has benefits beyond the learning part of the therapy program and impacts the general operation of the autism center. Even small amounts of time where therapists must manage multiple children can result in behaviors going unnoticed and safety becoming increasingly at risk.

Ask the ABA center how often your child will be one-on-one with a therapist. If it’s possible, try to find a center that provides 100% one-on-one ABA therapy. This means that at NO point during the therapy program will your child be without a one-on-one setting with a therapist.

Contact Lighthouse Autism Center to learn more about finding a quality ABA center for your child.

Verbal Behavior Therapy is a vital tool used to help those with autism improve their communication skills. Learn more about this approach to teaching communication and the benefits it offers autistic people.

What Is Verbal Behavior Therapy?

Communication is the foundation of human interaction, enabling us to connect, share ideas, resolve conflicts, and collaborate with others in our daily lives. However, this seemingly simple task can present distinct challenges for autistic children for a number of reasons, from neurological differences to sensory sensitivities and social factors. 

Verbal Behavioral Therapy (VBT) is an evidence-based approach rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The ABA verbal behavior approach sees verbal communication as a learned behavior and focuses specifically on teaching and improving a person’s verbal communication skills. It is a practice aimed at helping people who struggle in this area to develop their functional language and communication skills. 

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we use the Verbal Behavioral (VB) branch of ABA to teach autistic children essential communication and language skills. We focus on why we use language, the purpose of words, and how autistic children can use their words to communicate their needs, wants, and ideas in a meaningful and effective way. 

VBT is derived from the same philosophy of behaviorism that underpins ABA. It employs basic scientific methodologies to develop socially and educationally significant behaviors. VBT emphasizes the use of language within environmental contexts and verbal communities so that the learned communication skills are both functional and contextually relevant. 

How Does Verbal Behavior Therapy Work?

VBT uses verbal operants, or types of verbal behavior, to teach autistic children how to communicate better, and this verbal behavior approach can be very effective as a part of early intervention. It breaks down language into different uses and focuses on how these can be applied in everyday situations to help autistic children understand the purpose of language and improve their communication skills. Some of these operants include:

• Mand: When a person or child uses language to make a request. For example, if the child is thirsty, they will say “water” and receive a glass of water to drink.
• Tact: When a person or child labels something in the environment. For example, the child may see a glass filled with water and then say, “Water.” 
• Intraverbal: When a person or child is able to respond to a question. For example, when a teacher asks, “Would you like a glass of water to drink?” and the child responds, “Yes.”
• Echoic: When a person or child repeats what another person said. For example, when a teacher says “water,” and the child repeats the word “water.”

These verbal behavior examples demonstrate how VBT breaks down communication into functional units. So, when a child masters these different types of verbal behavior, they will be better able to understand and use language in meaningful ways.

The History of Verbal Behavior Therapy

The research and practices of VBT are based on the book “Verbal Behavior,” published in 1957 by the very influential behaviorist, B.F. Skinner. Skinner discovered operant conditioning, which is the fundamental idea that behaviors that are reinforced will tend to continue, while behaviors that are punished will eventually end. 

While the analysis of VB is extended from lab experiments of operant conditioning, it involves not only the environmental variables but also the behavior of other people who also use the same language. In other words, VB operates at a level where both the listener and the speaker are taken into consideration, along with any factors in the environment.

VB is different from other language theories that emphasize the cognitive or physiological process inside the living organism. B.F. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior turns the focus to controlling the variables in the environment that impact the cause or function of language. 

This means that VB is not only for vocal verbal language but also non-vocal use of language such as gestures, eye contact, pointing, and other nonverbal cues. VBT is not too concerned with the forms or structures of language, but these are important in the analysis of linguistics.

The Pros of VBT

Many practitioners utilize ABA verbal behavior therapy as an approach to developing communication skills in autistic children. There are a number of benefits to VBT as a part of the broader framework of ABA. Some of the main pros of VBT include:

1. Enhances analysis of the way we learn to speak in a natural environment. (Language acquisition can be natural but should not be confused with being innate).
2. Allows language to be broken down into small sections for in-depth analysis.
3. With the analysis, specific instructional sequences can be systematically developed for an autistic individual.
4. When learning issues occur, the analysis allows us to pinpoint possible sources.
5. Allows for individualized instructional strategies based on what the individual needs.
6. Helps create intensive and systematic intervention plans for individuals who have difficulties with communication and/or intellectual disabilities.
7. Intervention plans for individuals with difficulties with language and/or disabilities can be incorporated into natural and artificial settings.
8. Advances empirical research due to operational definitions that can be precisely defined, and each small component can be isolated to pinpoint the primary controlling variables.

Autistic children are often labeled as picky eaters, but the truth is that they face a unique set of challenges that can make mealtimes extremely stressful. Discover helpful tips on introducing new foods into your child’s diet to make mealtimes more nutritional and enjoyable for everyone at the table.

Tips for Introducing New Foods and Healthy Eating

Autism and food aversions often go hand-in-hand. Children on the autism spectrum are notoriously selective about the foods they consume. And, usually, this isn’t simply because they’re picky eaters. Their combination of sensory sensitivities and preferences for routine can turn mealtime into a real challenge. A nutritious, balanced diet is essential for growth, development, and overall well-being. So, what can you do if your child won’t eat their food? 

If you’re tired of googling “best foods for picky eaters” and feeling like you’re hitting a wall, it may be time to consider a different strategy. 

Autism and Picky Eating: Why Are Autistic Children So Selective About Food?

Of course, you already understand the importance of consuming a well-rounded diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Recent studies have shown that children with autism-related symptoms are five times more likely to demonstrate atypical eating behaviors, including narrow food selections, ritualistic eating behavior, and meal-related tantrums, which can make getting the necessary nutrients a challenge. 

Autistic people may be sensitive to the taste, smell, color, and texture of foods. Because of this, they may limit or avoid particular foods or even whole food groups. As the parent or guardian, you’re then faced with the task of managing their dietary preferences and being supportive while still trying to make sure they’re getting all of the nutrients they need. This can be a fine line to walk, but with care, sensitivity, and the right approach, you can help your autistic child develop a more balanced and nutritious diet.

Read on to learn how to expand your child’s food choices by addressing underlying anxiety, inflexibility, and sensory issues. There are also some great picky eater tips for parents to help reduce problematic mealtime behaviors and the stress that accompanies them. You might even be inspired with a few school lunch ideas.

Autism Eating Habits: Picky Eating vs. Food Rejection

While it’s common for autism to affect your child’s eating habits, it’s important to understand that there is a significant difference between what is colloquially considered “picky eating” and the unique challenges that children on the autism spectrum face. Most children, especially toddlers, go through stages where they refuse certain foods because of taste, smell, or texture. Generally, this is something they grow out of. 

Autistic children, however, aren’t just “being difficult.” Problematic mealtime behaviors may be a result of sensory issues, underdeveloped oral motor musculature (which makes certain textures troublesome), GI issues they aren’t able to communicate, the need for routine, or challenges with trying new things in general.

Another factor that contributes to the idea that autistic children are picky eaters is the myth of “high functioning autism,” which suggests that an individual who excels academically or is socially competent has “high function.” However, autistic children with high intelligence or excellent social skills are still likely to struggle with daily tasks like brushing their teeth, making decisions, or telling time. When children seen as “high functioning” struggle with eating certain foods, their behavior can be misconstrued as merely “being difficult.”

If left untreated, unhealthy mealtime behaviors may continue to escalate. Parents are often overwhelmed by a number of challenges at the same time. These issues may take precedence over feeding difficulties, and parents may find themselves relying on the few foods their child is willing to eat to avoid negative backlash. The longer feeding issues are allowed to continue, however, the more difficult and time-consuming it may be to help your child develop healthy eating habits.

Everyone knows how challenging changing your eating habits can be, and this is especially true for autistic children. Because they may hyper-focus on certain foods while refusing to try others, both behavioral therapy and nutritional therapy may be necessary. This will help adjust symptoms that may otherwise become maladaptive behaviors, as well as ensure you are working toward a well-balanced diet.

Ruling Out Medical Issues

Common gastrointestinal issues associated with food rejection include acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Autistic children are just as likely to suffer the same GI disorders as other children, but the difference is that they may not be able to localize or verbalize their discomfort. If a child senses or fears that a specific food may trigger pain, they are likely to refuse it, become suspicious of it, or throw tantrums. 

This makes it important for parents to be proactive in discovering the source of their child’s discomfort. A pediatric gastroenterologist can help rule out medical issues.

Techniques for Expanding Your Child’s Diet

1. Start Small

Your child most likely has a select few favorite foods. When you’re figuring out how to try new foods in your child’s diet or previously rejected foods, you can create a positive association by introducing minuscule amounts of these foods alongside their pre-established favorites. The first time, they may not necessarily eat the food, but they can still get used to its presence and appearance. Even if they don’t want to try it, you can encourage them to touch, smell, and explore the food. The next time, you might ask them to try a single bite and praise them for being willing to try.

2. Try Desensitization Practices

If your child has strongly rejected a certain food, but you feel it is necessary as part of a healthy diet, or it’s a staple in your household, you’ll need to reintroduce the food even more slowly, using a desensitizing technique. For example, if your child hates apples, start by placing apples in the house. Next, bring an apple into the room during playtime. This way, they can get used to the food without having to eat it. 

After a while, you might place some apples on the table during meals without requiring them to touch or eat them. Next, put a slice of apple on their plate. When they are okay with the apple slice on their plate and their original feelings of aversion have been resolved, invite them to try a bite.

3. Offer Choices and Control

No one likes to be told what to eat, and sometimes, your child will simply not like a certain food — this is completely natural. To accommodate this and give your child the opportunity to exercise healthy control, offer a wide variety of choices (within the necessary categories that form a well-balanced meal) and allow them to decide. 

For instance, when choosing dinner, allow your child to choose one ingredient from a variety of vegetables, starches, and proteins. If you’re making a curry, stew, or pasta dish, ask them to add one “mystery” ingredient to the dish for the other family members to discover. They might choose chicken, broccoli, or beans, for instance.

4. Adjust Textures

Hypersensitivity to textures is a common occurrence in people on the spectrum and can show up during mealtimes. Often, it’s the way a food feels in the mouth, not its flavor, that produces a strong aversion to certain foods. The crunchy texture of an apple or the squishy texture of a freshly sliced tomato is a classic example. Luckily, there are a multitude of ways to prepare foods and also a variety of healthy substitutes. Pears, for example, are much softer than apples, and apples could also be served stewed. Tomatoes can be blended or chopped finely into salsa or cooked into a sauce and served over pasta or as a dip for potato wedges.

One of the best ways to get picky eaters to eat veggies is to prepare them in a new and exciting way or work them into other dishes where they are not as easily distinguishable. For example, you could grate zucchini into oatmeal, add broccoli to homemade chicken nuggets, or blend leafy greens into smoothies without anyone noticing.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Mealtimes shouldn’t be a battleground, so be sure to manage your emotions, adjust your expectations, and set realistic goals. Many children need to taste a food more than a dozen times before they’re willing to eat it without any fuss. Autistic children with food aversions may take longer, so be sure to practice patience and create a safe environment for your child to explore new foods. 

There are likely a number of behaviors that require some practice when it comes to mealtimes, so rather than trying to correct them all within a single meal, break them into individual goals. Then, prioritize those goals and address them one at a time. Are you trying to increase the variety of foods your child consumes? The amount they eat? Correct disruptive behavior at the table? Identify your primary target, make the target known to both your child and other caretakers, and focus meals on progressing in that area. 

If, for instance, your child barely eats two or three bites at a meal, it’s unreasonable to expect them to clear their plate, and it’s probably not the best time to start introducing new or previously rejected foods. Instead, try increasing their intake by one bite per meal, and be sure to praise their success rather than piling more expectations on them because you think the meal is going well.

Lastly, expect a certain amount of resistance. This might include crying or whining, verbal aggression, and/or disruptive behaviors. The presence of these things doesn’t mean you’re not making progress, so adjust your expectations accordingly and don’t give up or give in.

Other things that can help reduce anxiety around mealtimes include:

• Role modeling healthy eating behaviors.
• Consistent and enjoyable mealtime routines.
• Making changes to how you prepare and/or present previously rejected foods.
• Playing with and exploring new and/or previously rejected foods.
• Praising every sign of progress, no matter how small.

Take A Multifaceted Approach

Like many things, it may take a multifaceted approach to see a significant difference when it comes to picky eating and autism. With time, consistency, and patience, however, you and your little one are sure to experience incredible progress.

When you’re facing the challenges of parenting an autistic child, it’s important to know what resources are available to you. In addition to local resources, several national conferences aim to teach parents to navigate the challenges of raising an autistic child and connect with others who are going through the same thing.

Top Autism Conferences for Parents

Parenting is a continuous learning and growth journey; sometimes, you just need a little support to get through the rough patches. If you are the parent or caregiver of an autistic child, you’re faced with a lot of additional challenges that make this kind of support even more crucial. 

National autism conferences can connect you with a diverse community of people facing similar challenges. So, you can learn from them, share experiences, and find new support strategies to implement at home and make parenting your autistic child a lot easier. 

The impact and importance of autism conferences

National autism conferences have become powerful catalysts for positive change in the autism community, driving scientific understanding and social acceptance forward. These events serve multiple crucial purposes, from raising awareness and creating a platform for advocacy to empowering families with valuable knowledge, medical research and strategies, and shared personal experiences from other parents. 

Why should you attend an autism convention?

There are several local autism resources that you can reach out to for day-to-day assistance, from support groups to educational resources and counseling. Parenting conferences focused on autism, however, offer support slightly differently. They bring together parents, researchers, medical professionals, and autism experts under one roof, creating a safe space for parents to share their experiences and connect with someone who understands. 

They often showcase expert-led workshops, groundbreaking research, and opportunities to share your experiences with someone who understands them (and learn from their experiences, too). These conferences can be a great way to gain a deeper understanding of autism and the complexities of navigating life with an autistic child. Here are a few autism spectrum disorder conferences that parents should consider attending.

Profectum

Profectum is an organization committed to gathering the most cutting-edge practices in autism, helping to teach families how best to use them with each unique child and building a community of families affected by autism. They hold various conferences throughout the year all over the country. Check out their website to see when a conference may be happening near you.

To learn more, visit https://profectum.org/conferences/#upcoming-past

International Society for Autism Research

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), formerly known as the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), is an annual event that brings together researchers, clinicians, and families to discuss the latest advancements in autism research. This conference provides a platform for sharing cutting-edge findings and best practices in autism treatment.

To learn more, visit https://www.autism-insar.org/ 

Love & Autism

While Love & Autism is an organization dedicated to autism awareness and community like the others, its main focus is the annual conference. One unique aspect of Love & Autism is that many of the events, including musical and art presentations, are performed by autistic individuals.

To learn more, visit https://loveandautism.com

 The Autism Project

The Autism Project connects researchers and practitioners with families affected by autism. It seeks to help the entire family unit by teaching the latest practices regarding autism and providing a supportive and collaborative community.

To learn more, visit https://www.theautismproject.org

World Autism Organisation

The World Autism Organisation was founded to create a global autism community. The group seeks to gather research and practices from around the world and create a shared space where professionals and families can collaborate internationally to share best practices, research, etc.

To learn more, visit https://worldautismorganisation.com

National Autism Conference

This conference is made possible by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education in partnership with Penn State Outreach and the Penn State College of Education.

Penn State offers online behavior analysis programs through Penn State World Campus, including a Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Educating Individuals with Autism, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Master of Education in Special Education with emphases in autism or applied behavior analysis.

To learn more, visit https://autism.outreach.psu.edu/