My three year old son was just diagnosed with ASD. It makes me nervous the idea of using food as stimulus or reinforcer. I feel you could be training a child towards an eating disorder....has this method been followed down the road with regards to this potential, is there no correlation?
You don't need to use food as a reinforcer. While it's very important to use something of value for the child (that will encourage them to increase the desired behavior), it doesn't have to be edible. It could be a desireable token or simply verbal praise. You have to figure out what will motivate and actually reinforce your child. The reason why food is often used is because it works as an unconditioned reinforcer (i.e. it doesn't have to be learned--we all have a desire to eat.). In regards to your concern about your child developing an eating disorder, I think that is definitely a low-incidence issue. There are so many other factors involved with people developing eating disorders. Here are some things to keep in mind should you choose to use food as a reinforcer: Keep it small (e.g. a single marshmallow, single Teddy Graham, single Goldfish cracker, etc.). This helps avoid satiation (e.g. once the child is full, food will no longer be of value as a reinforcer). It would also be a good idea to do this during typical snack time to avoid the likelihood of overeating (e.g. the reinforcement can serve as the snack).
Stephen Gibson is right. Plus edible reinforcers are less reliable in my opinion because the food can become less reinforcing if the child becomes satiated on it or if the child has very recently ate. Food can be either super reinforcing or not very reinforcing. Toys or fun activities are more consistent and work great too.
My son is now 7 and was diagnosed when he was 2 1/2. Food was one of the main reinforcers. He would get 1 mini oreo but it wasn’t given after every correct response. The therapist switches it up. And eventually fades the reinforcement to get him used to verbal praise. Now, I do more verbal praise and so does his therapist. He rarely gets an edible reinforcer.
food usually used if social praise does not serve as a reinforcer initially. You present the food with social praise, then fade the food over time. Social praise becomes a conditioned reinforcer
I'm autistic and I'm gonna be honest. I was in ABA therapy growing up and being taught to mask actually puts a lot of stress on me. I'm really tired from suppressing my autistic behaviors. It's like "we don't like that you act different so we're gonna teach you to fit in with society". This never worked for me and only made me feel like I wasn't normal. I feel like I'm forced to act fake around others because of this therapy. I am still in therapy like this and it's mentally draining. Just because I don't look at you doesn't mean I don't hear you. My eyes have a short attention span. I don't look because I want to fidget and look at my hands or I might space out for a second. Just because it's not normal doesn't mean anyone should be made to feel like they have to act normal. There is no cure for autism and therapy was completely useless for me, If not even more harmful. I'm not gonna put my future kids through that. Please look into alternatives. I was rewarded with food at school when I didn't have enough to eat and it made me stop eating almost anything for 2 days. I nearly had an eating disorder. Please look into alternatives if you are a parent. -autistic teen. PS: I still have autistic behaviors and won't change, they're part of me and not hurting anyone.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We have not signed our son up with ABA. While I personally have never been diagnosed with ASD I have struggled with eye contact from a young child up to my adult age now. It seems very unnatural. Interestingly, most animals do not make eye contact as it is seen as a challenge. The japanese people are notorious for not making eye contact as it is seen as a sign of disrespect. It is true, we are all different, and just because the majority may do something one way does not mean that those in the minority should just do the same......however, with that being said, life can be easier if you speak French in France.
This is all indeed true, aba shouldnt be about that instead teach tea spectrum kids only to expand their reppertory so they can be more independent facing challenges that non-autistic people put them through. It's really sad how some professionals still don't see this as a form of therapy and as every therapy they must take their patients/clients feedbacks in account. Don't be afraid to make yourself heard! You must have input on your own treatment
Yeah, in most cases, ABA is just child abuse. Plus, in a lot of cases, ABA is the same as teaching a parrot to speak. Sure, the parrot knows that certain sounds will earn them certain responses, but that's about it
Aww, she whipped her right eye with her ponytail.
These are great tips!
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Cool!
My three year old son was just diagnosed with ASD. It makes me nervous the idea of using food as stimulus or reinforcer. I feel you could be training a child towards an eating disorder....has this method been followed down the road with regards to this potential, is there no correlation?
You don't need to use food as a reinforcer. While it's very important to use something of value for the child (that will encourage them to increase the desired behavior), it doesn't have to be edible. It could be a desireable token or simply verbal praise. You have to figure out what will motivate and actually reinforce your child. The reason why food is often used is because it works as an unconditioned reinforcer (i.e. it doesn't have to be learned--we all have a desire to eat.).
In regards to your concern about your child developing an eating disorder, I think that is definitely a low-incidence issue. There are so many other factors involved with people developing eating disorders. Here are some things to keep in mind should you choose to use food as a reinforcer: Keep it small (e.g. a single marshmallow, single Teddy Graham, single Goldfish cracker, etc.). This helps avoid satiation (e.g. once the child is full, food will no longer be of value as a reinforcer). It would also be a good idea to do this during typical snack time to avoid the likelihood of overeating (e.g. the reinforcement can serve as the snack).
Stephen Gibson is right. Plus edible reinforcers are less reliable in my opinion because the food can become less reinforcing if the child becomes satiated on it or if the child has very recently ate. Food can be either super reinforcing or not very reinforcing. Toys or fun activities are more consistent and work great too.
My son is now 7 and was diagnosed when he was 2 1/2. Food was one of the main reinforcers. He would get 1 mini oreo but it wasn’t given after every correct response. The therapist switches it up. And eventually fades the reinforcement to get him used to verbal praise. Now, I do more verbal praise and so does his therapist. He rarely gets an edible reinforcer.
it just has to be a reinforcer. you can use stickers, toys and ect.
food usually used if social praise does not serve as a reinforcer initially. You present the food with social praise, then fade the food over time. Social praise becomes a conditioned reinforcer
I'm autistic and I'm gonna be honest. I was in ABA therapy growing up and being taught to mask actually puts a lot of stress on me. I'm really tired from suppressing my autistic behaviors. It's like "we don't like that you act different so we're gonna teach you to fit in with society". This never worked for me and only made me feel like I wasn't normal. I feel like I'm forced to act fake around others because of this therapy. I am still in therapy like this and it's mentally draining. Just because I don't look at you doesn't mean I don't hear you. My eyes have a short attention span. I don't look because I want to fidget and look at my hands or I might space out for a second. Just because it's not normal doesn't mean anyone should be made to feel like they have to act normal. There is no cure for autism and therapy was completely useless for me, If not even more harmful. I'm not gonna put my future kids through that. Please look into alternatives. I was rewarded with food at school when I didn't have enough to eat and it made me stop eating almost anything for 2 days. I nearly had an eating disorder. Please look into alternatives if you are a parent. -autistic teen.
PS: I still have autistic behaviors and won't change, they're part of me and not hurting anyone.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We have not signed our son up with ABA. While I personally have never been diagnosed with ASD I have struggled with eye contact from a young child up to my adult age now. It seems very unnatural. Interestingly, most animals do not make eye contact as it is seen as a challenge. The japanese people are notorious for not making eye contact as it is seen as a sign of disrespect. It is true, we are all different, and just because the majority may do something one way does not mean that those in the minority should just do the same......however, with that being said, life can be easier if you speak French in France.
This is all indeed true, aba shouldnt be about that instead teach tea spectrum kids only to expand their reppertory so they can be more independent facing challenges that non-autistic people put them through. It's really sad how some professionals still don't see this as a form of therapy and as every therapy they must take their patients/clients feedbacks in account. Don't be afraid to make yourself heard! You must have input on your own treatment
The last sentence!!! It could not be more truly!
Yeah, in most cases, ABA is just child abuse. Plus, in a lot of cases, ABA is the same as teaching a parrot to speak. Sure, the parrot knows that certain sounds will earn them certain responses, but that's about it
@@ldlink3935 good. ABA can often be really negative
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How to give eating disorders 101