How ABA Helps with Sibling Jealousy

Families who have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face very unique challenges. The child with autism often has special needs and may get extra attention from parents, other family members and outside professionals such as ABA therapists as a result.

The dynamic between siblings is always different in every family, but it can be especially challenging if one of the children has autism. For some, jealousy can be rampant among siblings, with either the child with autism being jealous of their siblings or the other way around.

Sibling relationships are crucial for children with autism. So, it’s important to foster them as best as possible.

ABA therapy (applied behavior analysis) provides various frameworks for how jealousy among siblings can be addressed and approached. We’ll discuss this in more length below.

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What Are Some of the Complexities for Siblings in an Autism Family?

The relationship among siblings can be complex in any family, as no two families are exactly alike. Those who have a child with autism may experience more significant complexities, though, due to the symptoms of the child’s neurodevelopmental disorder.

Communication barriers may exist among the siblings, as the one with autism may not be able to understand what their siblings are saying or doing, and may not have trouble expressing how they feel or what they want.

There may be significant differences in behavior between the siblings. Children with ASD often struggle with sensory sensitivities, which can result in tantrums, and may engage in repetitive actions and have restrictive interests.

In addition, children with autism may get extra attention that their siblings don’t get, just because of how much time and direct attention is necessary to help support them throughout their day.

All of this and more can result in jealousy among siblings, in ways that are unique to families who have a child with autism.

How Can ABA Therapy Help with Jealousy Among Siblings?

ABA therapy can help address jealousy among siblings by helping to foster a supportive and understanding environment among the children, those with and without autism. A key aspect of the treatment, after all, is involving members of the family, including siblings, as it results in better overall outcomes.

One aspect of this support comes from therapists helping the siblings improve their communication — both on their own and among the group. This can look a number of different ways depending on the child’s unique needs, such as assistive technology, a picture exchange communication system and/or behavioral strategies revolving around verbal communication.

ABA therapy can teach patience and active listening. It can also educate the siblings about the best ways to communicate with their sibling who has autism so they can understand each other best.

The treatment can also make significant strides in helping children with autism reduce their problematic behaviors and improve their emotional regulation. Therapists will help children with ASD find replacement behaviors and learn ways to cope with how they’re feeling.

In doing so, outbursts and tantrums can decrease, which can improve the relationship among siblings as a result. Also, therapists can help educate the siblings without autism on how to identify some of the warning signs that a meltdown might occur, so they can help support their sibling with autism in the best ways possible.

By improving social skills, ABA therapy can help siblings form tighter bonds. They will be able to play together, communicate and socialize better, in a way that’s fulfilling to all of the siblings.

This results in positive experiences that the siblings share together as a group, which only works to strengthen the bond among them.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Strengthen the Sibling Bond in Families with Autism

Jealousy among siblings is rather common for families with autism. It can happen for a number of reasons, but most of them can be addressed successfully by ABA therapy. At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced therapists creates personalized treatment plans that can strengthen the bond among siblings, fostering a more supportive and understanding environment.

To learn more, please contact us today.