DIR vs. ABA | Autism PDD

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Hi everyone,
My name is Katelyn and I am currently an undergrad/grad student
specializing in Early Intervention. I am conducting some research about
different therapies used with children specifically on the autism spectrum. I
have worked at centers that used DIR Floortime with their children, but am
also familiar with ABA. I am interested in finding out what parents have to
say about their experiences with either or both of these therapies. Which
ones have you and your children been involved with? What do you feel is the
best approach, ABA, DIR, a combination, or another therapy altogether? I
would love to hear your stories, or even stories from people you know. I
appreciate your time and look forward to discussing these topics with you!
Thank you so much,
KatelynDIR is the model created by Drs. Greenspan and Weider. DIR stands for
Developmental, Individual-difference, relationship-based. It's also called
Floortime because therapists get right down on the floor at the childrens
level to work on social interactions among other things.

Have you had experiences with EI? I'm wondering if the center used ABA?Sorry ,What is DIR

My son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 20 months and we immediately started special ed services and speech therapy at home 3xs each per week.  Both professionals used the DIR method which at the time I agreed with, since it most closely mirrored the way children learn.  He made some progress.

After 10 months of in home therapy we have just recently (3 weeks ago) moved him to an ABA school 5 1/2 hours per day 5 days per week.  We have seen TREMENDOUS progress in the 3 weeks he has been at his new school.  The drill techniques of returning to the same activity every day is very effective with him.

Now as I look back on the two methods I realize that not all kids can learn "the way other children learn" and we needed an alternative method.

If this information helps, I live in the State of New York and feel extremely blessed by the quality and the commitment of the office of public health towards early intervention. 

 

Michael has PDD-NOS and was diagnosed at 5.5.  He is very high-functioning as you probably surmised due to the late diagnosis, so in his case, formal ABA hasn't been needed.  That's not to say that there aren't some informal ABA principles that are used by us or various therapists, but no home programs.  His DIR/Floortime is 1x/week at OT and one month per year at summer camp (3 hours/day).  It's great but ABA is also needed for most kids to teach the rote stuff.  We have seen huge improvement w/Michael since he started his DIR/Floortime OT and she coaches us throughout the sessions, which is extremely helpful.  I've learned a lot. But he is in a weekly social skills group that is ABA oriented and I also think he needs a bit of that.

I again say that I hear good things repeatedly out of NY, NJ, MD, DE, PA, CA...and someone on this board said Georgia.

Has anyone been exceptionally happy, relatively speaking, with services in Virginia?  More specifically, any area in VA other than northern VA which seems to have more specialists and resources according to my research.

I agree with AndrewsMommy... floortime worked well with Tony.  He is almost 12 and was diagnosed just shy of his 3rd birthday.  We also were too late for the EI program due to his birthday falling around the same time.  Plus the Christmas holiday/winter break from school came soon after (his birthday is Dec 1), so essentially nothing happened until after the first of the year that year.

We have had afterschool workers who were interested in trying ABA but we never got things going for one reason and another.  I have heard some schools use a form of ABA and would like to know more.  I think Tony would do well with it if he isn't beyond that point.

Zachary had EI,From 6 months on ,it was his EI worker who first said the word autism to me ,Zachary was a Preme born at 27 weeks ,he was 2 lb,6oz.

we all thought there was something...she put a name on it.

She brought it to the attention of his ped,and gave me lots of Info.

He got his dx at 2.10,Aspergers,we found a ABA worker and then another ,20 hours a week at first,now 10 as he goes to daycare 5 days a week.

ABA,has made the most difference in his social skills,befor, when i would go to pick him up at daycare,he would be off in the corner alone,or with a adult,(he would not play in a center if there were already kids there) ,he would not look at me when i entered,he would need to be stood up and walked over to me,Then he would cling to me the rest of the time .

Two years later he runs up to me and then passes me as he playes with his friends,Hi MOM ,Can i stay for a few more minutes.Im playing with my friends!

Dont get me wrong ,he is not cured,he is still AS,With a capital A,(as his Dev Pede,stated on a recent visit),But ABA has helped him with alot,but sadly,our ABA funding stops at age 6 in Canada.

Linda 

We didn't get any good services from EI (due to bad co-ordinator and my daughter being almost 3 years old).  After she turned 3, we have been doing a combination of ABA and Floortime.  I would say more ABA but not too much actual sitting at the table.  We apply the ABA programs with a play based twist.  Getting the info through and also having fun and moving around.  We do the sit down ABA a little more than 1/3rd of the time.  No formal program for Floortime just using the 'circles'.  We try to keep the conversation going as much as possible.

This has worked quite well but we just got the report card for the past quarter and she needs to work on listening to the teacher and following through on the task in time.  She gets distracted so she doesn't hear the directions and gets distracted so she doesn't finish the task. 

If you have any pointers for the focus and follow through issues please feel free to PM me.  Thanks.

Im afraid i cant help you either as of yet my daughter even though she has been diagnosed for a full year, has not recieved  therapy of any kind

we are hoping to hear back in november

we sadly missed out last year and this year for any services and have been struggling to do it alone although jessi has made some remarkable milestones, who knows what the future can hold if she does recieve therapy!!!!

I love Floortime!

From all that I've read about ABA, it seems to require a "team" of individuals, parents included, who work with the child one on one from at least 20 to 40 hours per week.  It is also very expensive and challenging to find the right people in my area.  It was not an option for us at the time Andrew started therapy, but I know that it has helped many children.


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