Individuals who are on the autism spectrum all have unique differences and the degrees of severity of their challenges can vary widely. Many children with autism are high functioning. Broadly speaking, high functioning means that these individuals are more capable of caring for themselves and being productive members of society than individuals with severe symptoms of autism. However, children with high functioning autism can still benefit from working with a behavioral therapy provider. Parents who suspect that their children might be developing atypically can keep notes of their observations.

Language Skills

Children with high functioning autism do not generally display clinically significant delays in language acquisition and use. However, they may have problems with pragmatic language use , which refers to the use of language in a social context. For example, they might have trouble participating in conversations and they may have trouble understanding the use of abstract language such as sarcasm. They might speak with an unusual pitch, intonation, or rhythm.

Social Skills

Some individuals who have high functioning autism display difficulty in social interactions. Even though they may want to make friends, they might not know how to do so. As a result, others might mistakenly perceive these individuals as being aloof or detached. It’s also possible for these children to more easily socialize with others who are much older or younger than them. When interacting with others, children with high functioning autism might have trouble using or interpreting body language and facial expressions correctly.

Behavioral Issues

Parents may notice that their children have atypical behavioral issues or patterns. For example, they may display an obsessive interest in specific topics. These children may have unusually strong reactions to stimuli like flickering lights or loud noises. They might also engage in atypical, repetitive play.

The team at Star of CA offers assistance to individuals with all types and degrees of autism, including high functioning autism. Call our center for autism and related disorders in Ventura at (805) 644-7827 and request a consultation. A behavioral therapy provider will be happy to answer your questions.

There are many different therapies available for children with autism, but the type of therapy that has been clinically proven as effective is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA therapy stems from the science of behavior analysis. ABA therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses different approaches that can be helpful in increasing desirable behaviors and decreasing undesirable behaviors.

You can hear more about ABA therapy when you watch this interview. This expert explains that although ABA therapy is most commonly associated with autism management, it can actually be used in virtually any setting when positive change is desired.

For quality ABA therapy in Ventura, parents have long trusted Star of CA. If your child has been displaying possible autism symptoms, you can call us at (805) 644-7827 or you can visit us online to learn more about our methodologies .

Pivotal Response Therapy (PRT), or Pivotal Response Treatment, is a methodology that falls under the umbrella of ABA therapy. PRT seeks to address autism symptoms and challenges in a way that is based on play and initiated by the child. In other words, the child is allowed to choose an object to work with, which can help increase the child’s motivation. The therapist then provides instructions or opportunities and positively reinforces attempts at responding. Positive reinforcement stems naturally from the action. For example, if the child tries to ask for a ball, the therapist will reward him or her by handing over the ball instead of offering praise.

PRT is different from other types of autism therapies in that it goes beyond targeting individual behaviors. Instead, it targets specific or pivotal areas of development, such as self-management, motivation, and responses to multiple cues. In doing so, PRT can be helpful in improving communication, behavior, academic progress, and social skills.

Children with autism near Ventura and their parents can find the help they need at Star of CA, which provides high-quality ABA therapy . Call our center for autism and related disorders at (805) 644-7827.