How ABA Therapists Collaborate with Pediatricians

Holistic approaches to well-being have become commonplace today, as the benefits of an all-encompassing plan are immense. The same is true of children who have developmental challenges such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) is considered the leading treatment for children on the autism spectrum, but it doesn’t just treat patients in a vacuum. In fact, it’s most effective in collaboration with the child’s parents, caregivers, other family members and professionals such as teachers and doctors.

Teamwork between ABA therapists and pediatricians is key for providing ongoing care and support that is most catered to the child’s unique needs. This ensures their long-term outcomes are as good as they can be.

Below, we’ll discuss in more detail how ABA therapists collaborate with pediatricians.

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What Role Do Pediatricians Play in ASD Diagnosis?

Pediatricians play a crucial role in children’s developmental delays. They are the doctors that are seeing children most frequently, especially in the early stages of life.

Many children are visiting the pediatrician every three months for the first year of their life, and then still multiple times a year until they reach the age of 2.

During these visits, pediatricians will not only check the physical health of the child, but they will be speaking to parents, caregivers and others about the child’s developmental progress. At some of these well visits, developmental screenings will be conducted to look for the early signs of ASD and other developmental delays.

The pediatrician, then, is often the first medical professional who will spot potential early signs of autism. If they do, they will typically refer the child to a professional who specializes in autism, such as a developmental pediatrician or clinical psychiatrist.

What Role Do Pediatricians Play After an ASD Diagnosis?

Pediatricians continue to play a vital role in a child’s care after an ASD diagnosis. They are still the primary doctor responsible for monitoring the child’s physical well-being, through routine visits and other appointments.

Following an autism diagnosis, the pediatrician will likely collaborate with the professional who performed the evaluation and gave the diagnosis, as well as any other medical professionals who continue to see your child for care.

This is because behavior and development in general is a major aspect of what pediatricians do. They don’t just care for a child’s physical health, but their overall health and development.

How Do ABA Therapists Collaborate with Pediatricians?

Most ASD diagnoses come with a recommendation for ABA therapy.

The intensity of the therapy, and the specific strategies that will be used, can differ significantly from one patient to the next. However, the general approach and benefits are always very similar.

Once ABA therapy has begun, the therapist will do their work with the child, using targeted interventions to help them build social, communication and daily life skills, and helping them to modify certain behaviors.

They will be collecting a wealth of data and analyzing it to evaluate the child’s progress toward their goals.

All of this information is very valuable for helping to support the child both inside and outside ABA therapy settings. For instance, it can be used to create a coordinated and comprehensive care plan that can help address the child’s behavioral and medical needs.

ABA therapists and pediatricians can share information regularly back and forth so that the child’s true progress can be seen from an objective point of view. Then, treatment plans can be adjusted based on the joint information that’s now in their database.

This collaboration is extremely effective at monitoring the child’s progress and providing timely interventions when necessary. In the end, it leads to even more effective treatments — however the child may need.

Blue Gems ABA Coordinates Care with Pediatricians

Pediatricians are a key member of your child’s care team, and always will be, even after an ASD diagnosis. It’s very important that ABA therapists collaborate with pediatricians so children can get the most comprehensive and all-encompassing care possible.

At Blue Gems ABA, our therapy teams collaborate with pediatricians, teachers and other medical professionals as part of every one of our treatment plans. This helps us deliver the most holistic and effective care we can to all of our patients.

To learn more, please contact us today.