Tantrums? Increase Functional Communication

Is your kiddo having a hard time transitioning?  Throwing tantrums? Anxious? They may need help with their functional communication skills.

What is Functional Communication?

Functional communication training is based on the idea that problem behaviors may be a form of communication.  It aims to teach people with autism to use other forms of communication as substitutes for the ‘messages’ underlying the challenging behaviors.  For example, if the child throws a tantrum as a way to get out of doing some difficult task, then the instructor might teach the child to ask for a break.  Transitioning from one activity to the next can also be a challenge and cause anxiety.  Whether at home, school, or in theTantrums workplace, transitions naturally occur frequently and require individuals to stop an activity, move from one location to another, and begin something new.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have greater difficulty in shifting attention from one task to another or in changes of routine. This may be due to a greater need for predictability, challenges in understanding what activity will be coming next, or difficulty when a pattern of behavior is disrupted.  Ready, Not Ready Cards can help reduce the amount of transition time, increase appropriate behavior during transitions, rely less on adult prompting; and participate more successfully in school and community outings.

Using these cards can help our kiddos with expressing their feelings and replace behavior.

We have been a family blessed with the help of the team at The Helm. Our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 2.5 and The Helm was one of the places recommended by our developmental psychologist. I am a physician and still found it hard navigating this new medical problem and knowing what to do next. I called many places and from step one Lee Ann was the most helpful explaining the process with paperwork, assessment, available services, insurance, etc. we were able to start therapy quite soon after diagnosis and had sessions at home daily for 3 hours. The quality of staff, the system they have in place for the therapists, the coordination by the BCBA supervising therapist and early response put us at ease that we were on the right path. Ultimately the steady positive changes we saw with our son overcame any fears we had about autism holding our son back for the rest of his life.

We used many forms of intervention that we felt were individually tailored for our family – for potty training, anger management, dietary intervention and even let them know when we could not maintain something suggested in family training, and they would just take our request and implement another plan. Our son has now graduated/transitioned out of therapy and is currently in pre-K in a regular classroom with him on par with his class in academics, has friends and no behavior issues. Most important of all we have a happy son who loves to play with his big sister.

I know that I will always read all there is on autism and watch my son for any features. But I hope my review adds to positive aspects that I wish someone would have told me when I started the journey – start early, don’t put off your suspicions, get your child evaluated now! The label does not hinder,  in fact it falls to the side once you have the diagnosis to facilitate therapy. ABA intervention, especially done with the right people, makes a big difference. It does not pressure or upset the child at all, and you are not stuck in therapy for life! I know if any behavioral issues come up in the future I have The Helm, and they will help us and the outcome is going to be positive. Said with heartfelt thanks.

– Former Helm ABA Family

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