ABA therapy for adult Aspie?

[8FillTheHeart]

Since our ds was mis-diagnosed for the majority of his life, we are desperately seeking for ways to help him function as an adult.

I know absolutely nothing about ABA therapy. I simply keep seeing it referred to on various sites that I have been reading. However, it seems more appropriate for younger children than adults. Is that correct?

I do know that traditional therapy, bio-feedback, and CBT have not helped his behaviors at all.

FWIW, he'll be 18 in Feb.

Thanks!

[Dobela]

I don't know. I have not heard about it being used at the adult level. My brother was also not diagnosed until an adult (in his 30s) and we have had great difficulty finding therapies and services for him. He did qualify for a Rehab program that helped some. It did some job training and did social skills training. I don't know what is available in your area but this is what we founc to be available in our area : http://www.arsinfo.org/

[asta]

I think it really depends on what you are defining as needing remediation.

If it is explosive, anxious, obsessive, etc. moods, then traditional psychotherapy along with something like Risperdal is in the cards. Therapy has a low success rate when one's brain can't process it.

If you're talking about an inability to follow through with behaviors (personal grooming, simple work tasks, etc.), then you would be looking for an occupational therapist.

If you're concerned with a lack of social signaling capability (face blindness, behaviors deemed inappropriate in a public or work environment), then an Aspie "meet-up" or support group is probably the best place to start.

My fav website for ideas is the forum at WrongPlanet.net


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[Laurie4b]

Since our ds was mis-diagnosed for the majority of his life, we are desperately seeking for ways to help him function as an adult.

I know absolutely nothing about ABA therapy. I simply keep seeing it referred to on various sites that I have been reading. However, it seems more appropriate for younger children than adults. Is that correct?

I do know that traditional therapy, bio-feedback, and CBT have not helped his behaviors at all.

FWIW, he'll be 18 in Feb.

Thanks!

the principles of Applied behavioral analysis should be able to be applied to an adult. You'd just need a good therapist who could "think outside the box" a bit. Of course, by age 17, you need the client's cooperation to a very large extent whatever the therapy.

[sbgrace]

I'm not sure what exact areas he needs help in but I've known of people doing Relationship Development Intervention with adult children and as adults themselves. It's not a fast fix but it's a very complete program working on, among other things, helping a person function in a dynamic way--able to handle the complexity and unpredictability in the world.

If behaviors are interfering with function I agree that medication might be a consideration. If sensory issues are a big part of the picture you would want to look into sensory intergration work with a good Occupational Therapist perhaps. That sort of thing. I might be able to help more if you mentioned (generally) what specific struggles he's having or privately either way.