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Frequently Asked Questions About Autism

Browse categories below to find answers to the most frequently asked questions on autism and ABA Therapy.
  • What is a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)?

    A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA, is a graduate-level professional who is certified in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. BCBAs apply the principles of ABA to help children with autism improve behaviors and reach optimal outcomes so that they can reach their true potential.

     
    Centria Autism BCBAs oversee the creation, implementation and evaluation of individualized ABA Therapy for our clients. They take the lead building the best possible plan based on each child’s unique strengths and challenges.

  • What is a Behavior Technician?

    At Centria Autism, Behavior Technicians work one-on-one with children with autism to implement techniques that help them navigate everyday processes. We train every one of our Behavior Technicians in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, a treatment that breaks processes and behaviors down into small, simple steps.

  • What are Centria Healthcare's Hours?

    Centria Healthcare's National HQ office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 6pm EST. For therapy hours, please check the location nearest you. 

  • What milestones should my child be reaching?

    Understanding what typical social, emotional and motor-skill development to look for in your child is important and knowing what to do next is critical in setting your child on a path toward success. Below are example developmental milestones children should be reaching:

    9 MONTH-OLD MILESTONES:

    • Bears weight on legs with support
    • Sits with help
    • Babbles (says “mama,” “baba,” “dada”)
    • Responds to own name
    • Transfers toys from one hand to the other

    1 YEAR-OLD MILESTONES:

    • Crawls
    • Stands when supported
    • Searches for things that he or she sees you hide
    • Says single words like “mama” or “dada”
    • Points to things

    18 MONTH-OLD MILESTONES:

    • Points with intent to show things to others
    • Knows what familiar things are used for
    • Copies others
    • Gains new words
    • Knows at least six words
    • Notices when a caregiver leaves or returns

    2 YEAR-OLD MILESTONES:

    • Uses two-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”)
    • Knows what to do with common things such as brushes, phones, forks and spoons
    • Copies actions and words
    • Follows simple instructions

    3 YEAR-OLD MILESTONES:

    • Copies adults and friends
    • Takes turns playing games
    • Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
    • Says their own first name and age

    4 YEAR-OLD MILESTONES

    • Enjoys doing new things
    • Would rather play with other children than by themselves
    • Able to name some colors and numbers
    • Can tell you what they think will happen next in a book

    If your child is displaying any sign of developmental delays when comparing to their expected milestones, it’s important to speak to your child’s physician as a diagnostic test or screening for autism spectrum disorder may be necessary.

  • Do I need to do all the recommended hours of therapy?

    ABA therapy is a “dose-dependent” therapy, which means the higher the dose the greater the treatment effect.

    The American Academy of Pediatrics, The National Research Council, and the National Standards Project of the National Autism Center all confirm that starting ABA therapy as soon as possible with intensive behavioral analytic intervention of 25-40 hours a week for 12 months a year is associated with “substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior, as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.”

  • How many people will work with my child?

    At Centria Autism, we take a unique and comprehensive approach to ABA therapy. Each child and family has a therapy team which consists of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a Behavior Technician, and a Client Service Manager. Your team’s main function is to work together with you and your family to ensure that your child is receiving the highest quality ABA therapy.

  • Will I be involved in the treatment plan?

    Yes, you will! Parent and family involvement in the treatment planning for a child with autism is very important. You know your child best and your family’s goals for your child will be incorporated into the therapy treatment plan. In addition, it’s important for families to participate in ABA training sessions so that they can extend the child’s treatment to the hours outside of therapy.

  • What is Telesupervision and can Centria Autism provide it?

    Telesupervision is a technology-enabled form of therapy delivery. In a Telesupervision session, a child will work one-on-one with their in-person Behavior Technician while being supervised by a remote BCBA through a secure, HIPAA-compliant web-based platform – much like a video chat. Centria Autism does offer Telesupervision when there is no or limited access to an in-person BCBA in that area.

  • What do I do if my child has been diagnosed with autism?

    If your child has been diagnosed with autism then the best next step is to start the process to begin ABA therapy. At Centria Autism, we will work side-by-side with you and your insurance providers and physicians to verify insurance coverage, get insurance authorizations and have an assessment scheduled as quickly as possible.

  • What is the M-Chat?

    The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-ChatTM) is a screening tool that can be used to help determine if behaviors a child is showing could indicate that child has autism. The screener is not a formal diagnosis evaluation, and if you have any questions regarding the outcome of the screener, please consult with your physician as a formal diagnostic evaluation may be needed

  • How long will it take for my child to start ABA therapy?

    Depending on your location, and time of day you will have ABA sessions, we can start in as little as two weeks. After the Initial Assessment and Treatment Plan are developed, your Client Service Manager will contact your Health Insurance provider and submit for ABA coverage. We will be working on finding you a Behavior Technician that meets the needs of your child. Also, your Supervising Clinician will supervise the treatment plan and Behavior Technician moving forward. Once all staff is in place, and the ABA coverage through the insurance provider is authorized, we are ready to start!

  • Can you help me schedule an autism diagnosis appointment?

    Yes, we can! At Centria Autism we have an entire team of specialists who can help you navigate through the often-complex process to begin ABA therapy, which all starts with a formal diagnostic evaluation. We will work with you to help locate and schedule a diagnostic evaluation and keep in contact with you along the way.

  • Where does ABA therapy take place?

    ABA Therapy can take place in the home or at a professionally managed center. ABA Therapy techniques work well in both environments. In choosing between the two, most families look for the most effective approach based upon the needs of their child and the demands of their lifestyle. The decision usually comes down to your personal preference and your child’s unique autism symptoms. Learn more about where Centria Autism provides in-home or center-based therapy on our Locations Page.

  • How many hours of therapy does my child need?

    ABA therapy is usually prescribed in “hours per week” – and this is oftentimes referred to as the “treatment dosage”. ABA therapy is a “dose-dependent” therapy, which means the higher the dose, the greater the treatment effect. To determine the appropriate amount of therapy hours, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will complete a behavior assessment prior to starting therapy and make a recommendation of therapy hours based on your child’s needs and your family’s goals for treatment.

  • How long are ABA therapy sessions?

    Therapy sessions are based upon the number of hours your Board Certified Behavior Analyst recommends as part of the treatment plan. Sessions will range from 2 to 5 hours based on the need of the individual child and the associated treatment goals your BCBA and yourself have created together.

  • Will our child receive services in our home?

    ABA Therapy can take place in the home or at a professionally managed center. ABA Therapy techniques work well in both environments. In choosing between the two, most families look for the most effective approach based upon the needs of their child and the demands of their lifestyle. The decision usually comes down to your personal preference and your child's unique autism symptoms. Learn more about where Centria Autism provides in-home or center-based therapy on our Locations Page.

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