My Child is Not Broken: The Truth About Autism Therapies

My Child is Not Broken: The Truth About Autism Therapies

When Raelyn was diagnosed with autism, I knew what that meant: THERAPY. And lots of it. I knew she needed therapy long before she was diagnosed. She had actually been receiving speech therapy for a few months prior to her diagnosis. I also knew she desperately needed occupational therapy to help with her sensory issues. So when Dr. Rubin prescribed these therapies, I was totally on board. I wanted her to get the best therapy available, as frequently as she could.

Around 20 months, she started to have some significant behavioral issues. She was making herself throw up at least twice a day, biting and pulling my hair, and having meltdowns for no apparent reason. I had tried everything I could, but knew I needed some professional help. The two most popular therapies for behavioral issues in kids with autism are floortime and ABA (applied behavioral analysis). I have learned that people who believe in floortime are totally against ABA. In fact, ABA is very controversial among parents and even some professionals. I did research on both therapies and decided I was more comfortable with the floortime approach.

Floortime: 

Floortime encourages parents to engage children literally at their level – by getting on the floor to play. Parents follow their child’s lead while playing. If the child opens and closes the closet door 18 times, the parent joins in the activity with them. The goal is to get the child to engage with another person while doing the activities they enjoy.

This therapy approach is typically used in (but not limited to) kids who have mild behavior issues and are higher functioning

ABA:

ABA uses a reward system to replace negative behaviors with socially acceptable ones. Imagine the techniques used to train a dog…If the dog sits, he gets a treat. The same concept is used with ABA. If the child puts a toy in the toy box instead of throwing it across the room, he gets his favorite snack. In younger kids, ABA essentially looks like play therapy, but the therapist has very structured intentions with each activity. The therapist may follow the child’s lead temporarily and then redirect them to the intended activity.

This therapy technique is typically (but not always) used in kids with more severe behavioral issues.

At the INK Museum in Gainesville, GA. Such a great place for imaginative play and sensory integration!

So after my research, I had decided to seek out a floortime therapist. We took Raelyn to her follow up appointment with her developmental pediatrician, and were expecting him to be blown away by her progress.

Boy were we wrong…

At the beginning of her appointment, I told Dr. Rubin that I was looking for a floortime therapist in our area. He initially agreed with my decision, until he observed Raelyn’s behavior for about 30 minutes. After one of her royal meltdowns her said, “You know, on second thought, I think that ABA would be a better route to take,”

My stomach dropped and I could feel that ball in my throat starting to form.

I didn’t want my child to receive ABA. I refused to allow some stranger to try and “fix” my kid. She isn’t broken. She’s perfect just the way she is and I don’t want her to ever feel that it isn’t okay to be herself. I left that appointment with a terrible attitude and a sour taste in my mouth. How dare him suggest that MY CHILD needs the type of therapy that is associated with severely autistic kids! Then my heart sunk. I realized that perhaps he now recommended this therapy because Raelyn is actually more severely affected than we initially thought.

For a few days, I pretended to act like Dr. Rubin never suggested ABA therapy. But after some record breaking meltdowns and me feeling totally helpless in disciplining her, I needed a professional. I called Dr. Rubin’s office and spoke to his nurse. I told her my concerns with ABA therapy and asked if he suggested it because Raelyn is more severe than we thought. She explained that because Raelyn is so busy and stays in her own little world, she needs a more structured approach. THAT is why they decided that ABA would be our best option.

I decided to set up an evaluation with the therapist he recommended.

I figured there was no harm in just meeting the therapist, let her do an evaluation, and see if we were on the same page. When she came to our house, I was very clear in my expectations. I told her I do not want someone trying to fix my kid. I want Raelyn to feel free to stim when she needs to, and not be forced to conform to what society believes is “normal behavior.” I explained that the main reason for me seeking out ABA was to learn how to discipline Raelyn and to eliminate some negative behaviors (making herself vomit, biting, pulling hair). She was very respectful of my wishes and we agreed on a plan of care.

After Raelyn’s first session with her ABA therapist, Peggy, I knew that this therapy was going to be life changing. They immediately connected and formed a very unique bond. Peggy was able to accomplish things with Raelyn that her other therapists had been working at for several months with no success. The approach Peggy takes with Raelyn isn’t at all what I had imagined ABA would consist of. She just plays with Raelyn in a structured and deliberate manner. To be completely honest, there were times when I would wonder how the hell trying to get Raelyn to put blocks in a box for half an hour would improve her behavior. But it has!

Raelyn working with her occupational therapist

When we first started therapy, Raelyn had an attention span of about 25 seconds.

I am not exaggerating. Now, after three months of ABA, she can do an activity for a solid 15 minutes!! If you are seeking out a behavior therapy for your child, please take my testament into consideration. Just because I am now a full believer in ABA, that doesn’t mean I am anti-floortime. Floortime is wonderful too. It just isn’t the best approach for my child.

I know it is easy to feel as if every professional is trying to “fix” your kid. Your kid is not broken and he does not need fixing. His brain is just wired differently and needs a little assistance to help figure out this crazy world we live in!

To read my post, “Autism: 8 Amazing Aspects of My Child,” click here.

Follow our story on Facebook by liking Raelyn’s page, “Autism Through Raelyn’s Eyes.”