Lovaas Videotapes: Tape 4, Part 1

[Neilgs]

This "time honored" misguided and profoundly Non Developmental approach (a focus on isolated behaviors, cognitive tasks and signifiers) has NOTHING to do with addressing the underlying core deficits in autism and related challenges (i.e., joining-in with the child's natural affect or intent and drawing him into (deeper) reciprocal meaningful co-regulated social communicative circles; accounting for sensory-motor processing differences and verbal skills used in a meaningful and NOT rote manner!

[ABAisSCIENCE]

Please tell me the better intervention then.

Neilgs.

[MsSourGrapes]

@ABAisSCIENCE

I'm not Neilgs, and I do agree with many modern ABA concepts, but I must say that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. These kids are being talked down to and screamed at ("touch.... Cory's..... mouth... NO, CORY!!!") and being FORCED to do things not yet in their comfort, and their disciplines and rewards are for dogs -- not humans!

Behavioral therapy when done right can yield awesome results. The kids in these videos aren't getting that. ABA is science, but not this.

[ABAisSCIENCE]

@MsSourGrapes, Lovaas brought about the concepts that make up all that you know of Behavioral therapy. That you say it can yield awesome results is your compliment to the man. His results in the early 70s are 89% learn functional language and retain it throughout the life span, 63% achieve a regular I.Q., & 47% are indistinguishable from the typical population. Prior to the intervention 0% in all categories. Great results by Lovaas indeed.

[MsSourGrapes]

@ABAisSCIENCE

I don't have any qualms with complimenting the man on where he went right. However, I was born prematurely in 1965 and considered "minimally brain damaged" as a child. I was never given therapy as my I.Q. tested as regular, but I still, usually within my own control, maintain the behaviors that labeled me as "brain damaged" in the '70s. I realize I am a "high-functioning" example, BUT the statistics you give can't be fully tested as no one ever knew every single delayed person.

[MsSourGrapes]

@ABAisSCIENCE

All that aside, developmental delays are no excuse to hurt kids and treat them like animals. Lovaas did come up with positive bases for behavioral therapy, I know, but I weep for my generation.

[ABAisSCIENCE]

Isn't it awesome that in the 60s Lovaas took 8 boys in 4 pt restraint 23 hrs/day in institutions (all approximately 8 yrs old) & eliminated their self-injurious behavior. For 4 of them they continued to no longer self-injure because their parents took them home & continued therapy. The other 4 went back to institutions where when self-injury came back they were put back into 4 pt restraint. Mind you many were wheel chair bound due to the restraint. They had bit till shoulder blades were exposed.

[alfankosh]

thank you very much about these videos