Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals
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Book Reviews of Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals
Book Review: A great manual for parents and professionals
Summary: 5 Stars
Just beginning in this field, I did not know what to expect concerning the reading material I would have to read and study. Like many na?ve people, I assumed most ABA material would be too scientific or difficult to understand. Although I use ABA at work daily, thinking of it as a scientific treatment made me wary that it would be too hard to explain to others or even too difficult to truly understand myself. However, that all changed after I was assigned to read the second chapter in this book. The second chapter of this book is evaluating claims about treatments for autism. The chapter begins by describing the difference between science, pseudoscience, and antiscience. While describing each of these terms, she provides examples, easy to understand definitions, and describes how each can be seen in current treatments in autism. I believe that many parents who have children with autism are not fully educated on the types of treatments being offered to them for their children. Instead in their need to find a "cure," they are choosing treatment plans that may do more harm than good. However by reading this chapter, parents can begin to learn how to evaluate treatments and separate the ridiculous from the scientific. In this chapter, she describes in detail the factors professionals and parents should use for evaluating treatments, such as is there any evidence, are their replications of the studies with positive findings, is there too much subjective evidence, did they perform controlled experiments, etc. As a result, parents are able to find a treatment plan that will benefit their child and not harm them in the long run. The parents are able to become more involved and have a clearer understanding of the type of treatment their child is receiving. Also, it will allow them to become more involved with the treatment because they will have the research and information in front of them of what they should expect from the intervention chosen.
Another positive aspect of the book is that the authors may prefer ABA treatment for children with autism but they do not discourage other treatments or tell a parent what to do. Instead, they describe other intervention programs, their history, purpose, and any research regarding treatment. They show parents how treatments that look appealing may show no scientific backings for treating children with autism. Unlike many other interventions, it provides parents with the research and information to evaluate the treatments they may have tried besides ABA. The research presented is a starting point for parents to go out and find more research about different interventions plans, but it also provides an example about what parents should look for and disregard when evaluating treatments. I believe this book provides a good guide to use for parents and professionals on how to effectively evaluate treatment programs for children with autism. In this day where many pseudoscientific treatments are becoming available making promises of "curing" children with autism, parents and professionals need a manual that will help them learn how to scientifically choose the right program for their child without relying on other people's subjective reasons.
Book Review: After the diagnosis....
Summary: 5 Stars
Catherine Maurice points out the strategy of this manual very succinctly by stating "We are putting ourselves in the shoes of parents." Definitive ways to begin a home based program dealt with issues such as the hiring of an A.B.A. therapist and obtaining volunteers from local colleges. Examples of the efficacy of parent groups such as F.E.A.T. allow us to see the possibilities of cost effective home programs. Starting up an early intervention program was compared to beginning a small business. It requires parents motivated to work closely with professionals in both home and community settings. Interventions were clearly described, and systems of recording data to track individual student progress were labeled and detailed. Passages explaining how to determine the effectiveness of programs based on scientifically proven facts are specific and simple enough for a layperson to understand.
Dr. Ivar Lovass` chapter states "Behavioral treatment is based on stepwise and cumulative knowledge from scientific research." (Page 242).
Speech Language Pathologists and A.B.A. therapists working in tandem enhance similar goals. The importance of tracking progress in these areas by parents and professionals in contact with the child were clearly highlighted.
Broad explanations of legal rights were provided by a special education lawyer. Specific concerns of what to address in an I.E.P and determination of where a child will have optimum progress, not just the "least restrictive environment," were outlined by professionals and effectively following A.B.A. programs conclude the manual. Many experts and parents collaborated on this manual, and I believe the purpose was to provide parents and educators with a comprehensive overview and summation of exactly what a good A.B.A. program is and does for children.
Parents of young children newly diagnosed with autism will greatly benefit from the scientific and personal support that is found in this manual. My local state run special education resource library has this manual in the early childhood section. I will keep this in my personal library and reference it frequently. Out of the hundreds of books I've read on the subject of autism, this manual surpasses them in terms of practical and hopeful ideas, whether or not it fits into your immediate plan of therapy. There is a broad range of abilities and differences among all people, and especially those on the spectrum. It behooves us to discern exactly how we can help our children, and if, in fact, there is objective evidence and success to justify therapies in use, and whether or not they will generalize into the future.
Book Review: A review to evaluate treatments
Summary: 5 Stars
A Review of Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals. Edited by Catherine Maurice Co- edited by Gina Green & Stephen C. Luce.
Whether new in the field of applied behavior analysis or someone who either knows or works with children with autism, this book is an educational reference to have. There is a variety of items that can be taken away with after reading through this book, such as teaching strategies, what programs to teach, how to teach, legal issues in the classroom, what to expect from parents, etc. However, what I wanted to focus on in this review was what I felt Green did an excellent job communication clearing and precisely in the introduction of the book, that is evaluation claims and treatments for autism. an area that I feel so many of us need to become more proficient in, especially because there is so many `claims' out there.
Science is a set of methods for learning about our world is that science is a way to gather knowledge to minimize subjective bias and maximize accuracy. In science objective, systematic, and direct observations of phenomena are being studied and how we can make changes. Science is likely to be the most accurate source of knowledge for how things work in the world.
The difference between science and pseudoscience is that science uses specific tools to put hypothesis to logical and empirical tests. Some of those tools include operational definitions of the phenomena or behaviors of interest. In science we use direct, accurate, reliable, and objective measurement. In science, controlled experiments are conducted and there is a reliance on objective data for drawing conclusions and making predictions to verify independent effects. In the introduction of this book, Green aims to helps the readers identify and be able to analyze the many treatments that they will encounter that claim to "recover" autism.
In contrast, pseudoscience lends credibility to beliefs, speculations and untested assumptions by making them appear scientific. In pseudoscience, scientific jargon is often used by using endorsements from individuals with scientific credentials. Pseudoscientists offer testimonials, anecdotes, and unverified personal reports to back up their claims. Little or no objective evidence is provided. Catchy, emotionally appealing slogans are used in marketing the therapy and belief and faith are often said to be necessary for the therapy to "work."
In order for consumers to tell the difference between science and pseudoscience is to be skeptics and weigh the evidence. We should ask certain questions when evaluating science such as "what is the intervention?" "What is it supposed to do?" "Have its effects been tested in controlled experiments using direct, objective measures?" "Were those studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals?" These are just a few examples of the kinds of questions that should be asked. Once these questions are answered published research should be sought and if necessary, it is always a good idea to consult with an expert in scientific research methodology to help evaluate the research.
In Green's book there is an entire section in which several treatments are broken down with background information and how to answer such questions. I felt that she provided a variety of documented research on a variety of pseudoscientific treatments, which are not evidence based. Each chapter covers basic issues, whether a parent or teacher of a child with autism the information is both useful and serves as guidance towards the most effective treatment based approaches.
Book Review: The manual you need
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want to do ABA with your autistic child, get this manual and the book Overcoming Autism - I have read a dozen books and these are the 2 I go back to time and again. I use this manual as a guide, picking a few lessons a week to build upon. Gives you the focus and direction to know what to do with your child.Book Review: Classic ABA book a little out of date
Summary: 4 Stars
Hi I am a BCBA and Autism Intervention author. I think this is a great book on ABA and has been for many years. The reasons behind why the scientfically validated principles of behavior should lead your home program are well explained in detail and the book offers a useful curriculum for those who do not have access to a Board Certified Behavior Analysts to help you. The issue with this book is that it was written with the the best recommendations of the early to mid 90's much has changed and continues to change in ABA. Particularly the inclusion of Skinner's analysis of Verbal Behavior, the importance of Motivating Operations and Natural environment teaching. Some books to consider in addition to this one that will update your program into the 2000's are The Verbal Behavior Approach by Mary Barbara for an introduction to ABA/VB The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children With Autism and Related Disorders and for a more complete Teaching Manual on ABA/VB, my book, Educate Toward Recovery by Robert Schramm, MA, BCBA.Educate Toward Recovery: Turning the Tables on Autism