How to Know If ABA Autism Treatments Are Harmful

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a controversial topic in the autism community. Someone said they or their children were abused. Some say that this method is very effective. Of course, you always want the best for your loved one, but how do you distinguish between a story with promising results and a story that leads to tragedy? Pay close attention, and you can spot the signs. This article was written for relatives of children with autism, but adolescents and adults with autism may also apply.

Note: This article covers topics such as submission and abuse therapy, which can be upsetting, especially for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). caused by this law. If you feel uncomfortable with topics like these or whenever you feel uncomfortable with the content of articles, we recommend that you stop reading.

Table of Contents

A review of the goals of ABA . therapy

The goals of this therapy focus on helping your loved one learn skills and live a happy and comfortable life. Suppressing symptoms is not the goal.

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Wonder if the goals here revolve around adaptation and assimilation. The United Nations has declared that children with disabilities have the right to preserve their identities, ^{[1] X Credible Sources United Nations Going to the source} means that children can be themselves, even when they show signs of being self-sufficient. century. A good therapist will allow a child to have a different look, and therapy does not focus on eliminating particularities such as:

Most Self-Stimulating Behaviors ^{[2] X Sources of Research}^{[3] X Sources of Research} (You may have heard phrases like “hold your hands still” and “put your hands on the table” to indicate restraint) suppress self-stimulating behavior.)
Go on tiptoe
Avoid eye contact ^{[4] X Research Source}^{[5] X Research Source}^{[6] X Research Source}
Don’t want to have many friends
Other disabilities (disability children voluntarily perform, not forced by others)

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Consider whether the therapist is managing your child’s emotions. Some therapists train autistic people with facial expressions or body language to appear happy, regardless of how they really feel. ^{[7] X Research Sources}^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not force anyone to smile or appear happy if they are not.
A person with autism should not be forced or trained to hug or kiss, even if this can be emotionally hurtful. The right to set boundaries is important in protecting children with autism from sexual and emotional abuse. ^{[9] X Research Source}^{[10] X Research Source}

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See if the therapist counteracts or adapts to the autistic mind. ^{[11] X Research Sources} A poor practitioner may try in vain to make a child with autism no longer appear autistic; Good professionals will find ways to work with children with autism so they can become happy and competent adults with autism. ^{[12] X Research Resources} Therapists should focus on making autistic children or adults with autism happy, not on becoming non-autistic. Good goals of therapy may include:

Find pleasurable and harmless self-stimulating behaviors instead of shutting down all self-stimulation
Find ways to adapt and alleviate sensory problems
Learn social skills in a friendly environment; including assertiveness as well as making friends
Discuss and meet the individual goals of children with autism

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Assess whether communication is taught as a necessary skill or as an expression to please adults. The ability to communicate should be emphasized over words (including behavioral communication and complementary and alternative communication). ^{[13] X Research Resources}^{[14] X Research Resources} Initial vocabulary should focus on basic needs rather than on parental feelings.

Words like “yes,” “no,” “stop,” “hungry,” and “pain” are more essential than “I love you,” or “Mom.”
Behaviors should be respected, even for people who are learning to communicate through complementary and alternative communication or verbal communication.

Observe therapy sessions

A caring therapist will treat a child with autism well, no matter what. No one is so autistic or so “incompetent” that they do not deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

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Consider if a therapist can restore a child’s capacity with autism. A good therapist always assumes that children with autism are capable of listening (even when they are unresponsive), and assumes that children are trying their best. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Children with autism who do not speak or speak only a little may have a better ability to think than to communicate. ^{[16] X Source of Research}^{[17] X Source of Research} In autistic children, the body does not always obey will, so the child may not be able to point out exactly what is wanted. ^{[18] X Research Source}^{[19] X Trusted Source Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network Go to Source}^{[20] X Research Source}
Therapists will have to be concerned with why the child is acting like this, and never assume that certain behavior is meaningless or ignore the behaviors that the person with autism is trying to use to help them. communicate. ^{[21] X Research Source}^{[22] X Research Source}^{[23] X Research Source}
Schoolwork for a four-year-old would not be appropriate for a sixteen-year-old.

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Assess whether the therapy is a joint effort, or if the therapist is dealing with a child with autism. Consensus is essential. A good therapist will strive to work with a child with autism and will engage with the child respectfully at the child’s level. Therapy is not a battle, and children with autism don’t have to put up with therapy. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

Think about whether the healing process could be described as cooperative or submissive. ^{[25] X Research Sources}^{[26] X Research Sources}
Children with autism should have the right to voice their concerns, opinions, and goals. Children need input on the treatment process.
Therapists need to be respectful when children say “no.” If children with autism are dismissed as saying “no,” they will think the word “no” means nothing and do not need to listen to it. ^{[27] X Research Source}
Find an interesting therapy for your child with autism if possible. Many good therapies will be like methodical playtime.

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Carefully consider how boundaries are handled. Children with autism have the right to say “no” and be heard by a therapist. The therapist should not push, pressure, coerce, or threaten that a child will lose an item or right when a child with autism is uncomfortable. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Children with autism must be respected when they say “no” or show discomfort (verbal or nonverbal).
Bullying and sexual abuse are high in children with autism (and adults with autism). You should ask to include assertiveness training in your child’s therapy program. ^{[29] X Research Source}^{[30] X Research Source}

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Check out the use of reinforcement method. This approach can be effective but can also be abused ^{[31] X Sources of research} or abuse. ^{[32] X Research Sources} A poor therapist may ask you to keep a child with autism away from your child’s favorite things at home so that the child will listen to them during therapy. ^{[33] X Research Source} Note if therapist uses or restricts:

Food
Children’s access to favorite things, such as teddy bears ^{[34] X Research Sources}^{[35] X Research Resources}
Negative reinforcement, also known as corporal punishment (eg, slap, mouth spray, forced inhalation of ammonia, electric shock) ^{[36] X Source of Study}^{[37] X Source of Research}^{[38] X Research Source}^{[39] X Research Source}
The ability to breathe
Too many reinforcements; the autistic person’s life is a series of goods and exchanges; otherwise, they will lose their intrinsic motivation

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Consider whether a child with autism gets a break to calm down or engage in self-stimulating behavior. A bad method that continues to force a child with autism long after he or she needs a break, even using it as a will-breaking technique to force a child into submission. A good approach will allow children to take breaks on demand. ^{[40] X Research Source}

40 hours of therapy per week is the equivalent of a full-time job. This drains the child’s energy, especially with young children.
A good therapist will encourage the child with autism to communicate the need for leave and allow the child to take time off whenever he or she needs it or thinks it is necessary.

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Assess whether the child feels safe in therapy. Good therapy helps people with autism feel comfortable and safe. ^{[41] X Research Sources} Therapy will not be good if there are screams, crying or two sides fighting with each other. ^{[42] X Research Source}

There are bound to be bad days and babies may cry during therapy. If this happens, consider what role the therapist played in the cause of the distress and how they responded.

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Think about whether the therapist is concerned about the child’s feelings. Therapies like ABA focus on the Antecedent-Behavior-Result pattern. While it is obviously beneficial, it can also become dangerous if inner experiences (such as emotions and stress) are taken for granted. ^{[43] X Research Source} A good professional will empathize with a child with autism and try to see the world through the child’s point of view. ^{[44] X Research Source}

A good therapist will be careful, don’t push too hard, and give the child a break if needed.
Bad professionals won’t stop, even if they’re distressing a child with autism, or may even push the child harder. ^{[45] X Research Sources}

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Notice how the professional reacts if the child cries or gets angry. A good therapist will immediately “get in the water” and express concern (or guilt) about the situation. The bad therapist may push harder, hold the child down, or try to “break” the child, turning the session into a confrontation.

A good professional will be honest about what happened and take steps to prevent the situation from happening again. They care about the child’s emotional pain.
Some poor professionals interpret these situations as “rage” and insist that such behavior needs to be dealt with more aggressively.
The process of treating with so much tears and frustration over weeks, months, or years can turn a mild-mannered child into aggression. ^{[46] X Research Source}^{[47] X Research Source}^{[48] X Research Source}

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Observe physical intervention. Some therapists will use force to force a child with autism into submission if the child does not do what they want. Let’s observe the action:

Punishment ^{[49] X Research Source}
Grabbing and dragging an autistic child against their will (including grabbing hands) ^{[50] X Research Source}
Child restraint by force (slamming hands on the table, pinning the child to the floor instead of calming down) ^{[51] X Source of Research}^{[52] X Source of Research}^{[53] X Source of Research}
Confine the child (the “calm down” room, the seat with straps to hold the baby)

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Be on the lookout if your child is acting poorly or is scared. Harmful treatment can put a lot of pressure on a child with autism, leaving them exhausted or exhibiting symptoms of abuse. Children may act “like a different person” during therapy or with therapy participants, even if it always does. ^{[54] X Research Sources} Watch for… ^{[55] X Research Sources}

Crisis on the rise
Increased anxiety; Declining trust in adults
Lost skills
Extreme behavior: demanding, aggressive, extremely submissive, withdrawn, apathetic ^{[56] X Research Source}
Having suicidal thoughts ^{[57] X Research Source}
Increased distress before, during, or after therapy ^{[58] X Research Source}
Violence, if this has never happened before ^{[59] X Research Source}
Other changes in mood, skills or behavior ^{[60] X Research Source}
The cause of the condition may not be due to this therapy. However, if the therapist dismisses the doubts, and/or the child seems particularly nervous about the session or therapist, that’s a red flag. ^{[61] X Research Source}

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Consider whether it would be acceptable for someone without autism to be treated that way. No one is so “so incompetent” that they are not treated well. You can see this when you imagine a child without autism being treated this way. Let’s pause for a minute to picture this scene. Do you feel uncomfortable? ^{[62] X Research Source}

Do you feel embarrassed or would intervene when you see your family members or friends, who are not autistic, being treated this way?
Imagine you are the same age as that autistic child. Would you feel demeaning if you had to go through such things?
If you saw the parents of a child without autism treating the child this way, would you call the child protection center?

Check your relationship with the therapist

This section applies if you are in contact with a therapist.

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Beware of false promises. A bad professional may not be honest with you, solicit you, or promise things they don’t deliver. They may not care, blame you, or blame the child with autism if things don’t go as they say. Please note the following points:

Autism will last a lifetime. ^{[63] X Research Sources} No one can be “cured” for autism.
People with autism come in many different forms. ^{[64] X Research Resources} A one-size-fits-all treatment may not be suitable for the unique needs of the child.
There are other very good treatments available. If a therapist claims that their approach is “autism chemotherapy,” or they say all other therapies are bogus, the therapist is dishonest.
The ABA method is able to teach children some tasks better than others. It’s also helpful to teach skills like getting dressed or tapping someone on the shoulder to get attention. Because decisions are based on data collection, this approach is not effective in teaching speaking or mind-body disconnection skills (such as showing the correct card). ^{[65] X Research Sources}^{[66] X Research Sources}
Autistic people have real feelings. If a child with autism is showing signs of fear or pain, it is likely that the child is really experiencing it.
Autism and well-being are not mutually exclusive. Children with autism can still live happily.

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Pay attention to what therapists say about autism and children with autism. Even if your child is speechless and seems unresponsive, he or she can still understand the therapist’s words and attitudes. A negative attitude can hurt a child’s self-esteem and may also indicate that the professional is abusing the child.

Call autism a drama, a terrible burden, a life-destroying monster, etc.
Calling a child with autism a “trick” or blaming the child for any problems that arise. ^{[67] X Research Sources}^{[68] X Research Sources}
Urges you to punish your child harshly ^{[69] X Trusted Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Go to source}

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Consider whether the therapist will allow you to follow up with therapy sessions. If a therapist has hurt a child with autism (mental or physical), they may be trying to keep it from you.

The therapist may say that your presence will be a distraction, or that you may interfere with therapy. This sign is actually a red flag. ^{[70] X Research Sources}^{[71] X Research Sources}
If you are not allowed to watch therapy sessions but just listen to the therapist’s narration, be aware that there is a chance that they are distorting the truth or using a misleading interpretation to explain bad things.

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Ask if the therapist listens when you are worried. As the parent, caregiver or loved one of a child with autism, your instincts are also important. ^{[72] X Source of Research}^{[73] X Source of Research} You can usually tell a therapist when something is wrong with a child with autism. A good professional will listen and pay attention to your concerns, while a bad specialist will act defensively, dismissing or oppressing you.

A bad professional may tell you not to trust your judgement. This is a very alarming signal. They may be experts, but that doesn’t mean your thoughts aren’t valuable.
If there is a longstanding disagreement between the two sides, a bad professional can turn others against you.

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Trust intuition. If you feel “whispering” that something isn’t right, that feeling is really worth considering. If things don’t seem right, don’t be afraid to give up. There are many other therapists who use ABA and other therapies. You need to put your child’s happiness first.

Advice

Just because a particular therapy works for some people doesn’t mean it works for everyone else. You are not a bad parent/carer if you remove a child with autism from ABA therapy. Your worries and choices are well-founded.
Some people with autism often cry a lot, especially those who can’t communicate properly or have problems like anxiety or depression. Thus, crying during therapy is not necessarily a warning sign of danger. Instead, pay attention to whether your child with autism is crying more than usual and why. (Note that talking about a person’s feelings and problems can make the person cry, so this can happen if it’s part of therapy.)
Many adults with autism have undergone ABA therapy with good or bad results. They can tell you what works and what doesn’t.
Bad professionals can appear very nice. ^{[74] X Research Source} Don’t blame yourself for not realizing it right away.

Steps

A review of the goals of ABA . therapy

Observe therapy sessions

Check your relationship with the therapist

Advice

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