A teaching method for children and adolescents called applied behavior analysis (ABA), which scientists note is effective for treating children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), may also be effective for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“ABA is a methodology that uses applied scientific interventions to address behavioral needs,” explains Jennifer Silber, PhD, BCBA-D clinical director at the May Center School for Brain Injury and Related Disorders, located in Brockton, Mass, in a media release.

“For both populations, treatments that incorporate ABA methodology can facilitate the development of language, social interactions, and independent living. They can also help reduce both everyday social problems and serious behavior disorders,” she adds in the release from May Institute.

Children who have experienced a TBI, like those with ASD, may experience challenges in such areas as using and understanding language; social skills; emotional control, flexibility, and coping; academics and learning; planning, organizing, and remembering; personality changes; paying attention; and gross and fine motor skills, per the release.

“When teachers and therapists at our school for students with brain injury and related disorders employ the principles of ABA in classrooms and therapy rooms, they find that many of the challenges experienced by students with TBI can be successfully addressed,” Silber states.

[Source(s): May Institute, PR Newswire]