Treating Kids With Autism

Chloe Dove with writer Torey Darin

Every weekday Chloe Dove sits in her poppy red two-door Volkswagen Golf before work, doing her morning breathing exercises that she teaches in her yoga class. In with the nose, and out with the mouth. She mentally prepares for her job as Senior Behavior Instructor at Behavior Frontiers, a training and treatment program designed for children and families living with autism, located in El Segundo, Calif. 

Dove works in home and school settings, providing therapy children with autism. Dove is petite, with chestnut brown hair, a tan complexion, and a glinting smile that radiates her Mexican heritage. Her work requires a great deal of patience, because every patient can be different, ranging to either extreme on the autism spectrum.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders. The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction, according to the National Institute of Health. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Some struggle to communicate verbally.

Scientists are not sure about what causes autism, but it is likely that both genetics and environment play a role.

To help the kids develop as fully as possible, Dove uses applied behavior analysis (ABA) in her therapy sessions. ABA helps children with autism learn through repetition to interact socially. In her therapy sessions, Dove conditions children by increasing behaviors through reinforcement, on-task behavior, or social interactions. She also works to teach new skills, such as functional life skills, communication skills, or behavioral skills.

Dove said that ABA therapy is the most effective treatment option in helping children with autism.

But, Dove enjoys it. “It’s basically like working with any kids, but mine tend to have a few more behavioral issues and social deficits,” Dove said.

There are no medications specifically designed to treat autism. If a child has another mental health issue, such as ADHD or anxiety in addition to autism, they may be on medication for those conditions.

Some days can be challenging for Dove, because some children who she treats have a hard time expressing themselves verbally, especially if something is wrong. “I work with a few non-verbal children, and when their behaviors are off, it can be difficult, because I may never know why.”

Steve Sanchez, 56, is the uncle and legal guardian of Peter who is diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Sanchez said that his nephew, has benefited greatly from ABA therapy from a private psychologist in Joliet, Ill. 

“I’ve seen his attitude improve over the course of treatment," Sanchez said. "He was always a smart kid. He could count and read when he was only four or five. He seemed like a normal kid. But he had trouble talking and playing with other kids and would throw tantrums when he didn’t get his way.”

Peter is now 9 years old, and loves the treatment that he has received since he was 6. “I like my counselor. She helps me. She helps me do things, and calms me down,” Peter said, sitting on his uncle’s lap.

Peter is currently in a developmental learning school in the Chicago suburbs, but Sanchez said that he has high hopes for Peter to integrate into mainstream public school in the near future. . 

“He will never be fully cured, but I have seen him improve so much since he began treatment," Sanchez said. "Just in the little things.”

For instance, Sanchez remembered when Peter would not eat dinner and instead wanted ice cream. “He would throw tantrums on the floor, pounding his fists at the ground and crying,” Sanchez said.

Now, Peter knows that if he cries, he will not get ice cream, but if he eats his dinner, he will get rewarded with dessert.

Dove said that a large portion of her time is devoted to trying to figure out why a certain behavior occurred. There was one child who flapped his hands constantly. Through ABA therapy Dove was able to diagnose that the flapping was caused when the child was nervous. After the problem is identified, Dove goes about trying to stop it from happening.

Sometimes children come to the center. Other times, the child struggles with social interactions, so their needs are best met with private interactions in the home. Each child's needs are met based on what they need the most, and what the family would like. Each child has a "team" consisting of a clinical director to oversee the process, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a case supervisor, and therapists.

Depending on the child, the family and the family’s financial situation, the supervisor and BCBA discuss with the family what the child needs most to function properly in society, and from there the therapists enforce it. Dove said that sometimes it can take years to really get used to a child and his or her family and to see what works best for them. 

The hard work, however, seems to pay off. Dove has seen tremendous changes in children in the last two years. Several of children that she has worked closely with have become able to both communicate with others verbally, and express their emotions in controlled ways. Dove indicated that while this may not seem like a spectacular improvement, but any increase in social interaction is a tremendous victory for a child with autism.

Dove went on to say that the best part about working with these children through Behavior Frontiers is the relationships she develops with the kids and their families. 

“I’m basically an extra member of all my client’s families and it feels nice knowing that they’re helping their children and are open to change," Dove said. "It’s definitely not easy for them. Seeing my kids grow and change is really special.”

The first child that Dove worked with is graduating from ABA services at the end of March. In the time the child has been getting treatment, he is already comfortable around his peers and has grown drastically since beginning treatment a year ago.

The stigma surrounds autism is similar to many mental illnesses and neurological disorders, a lack of education. 

“Like anything challenging, unless you've seen it yourself you really have no idea," Dove said. "Part of my whole job is often trying to figure out why a certain behavior occurred and it isn't always black and white.”

If people were more aware about people living with autism, and why they interact the way that they do, it could help shine a new light on autism.  

“It's a very frustrating disorder because it doesn't always make sense to most people,” Dove said.

Posted By: Torey Darin