ABA Therapy for ADHD?

[Bernadine]

Hi all. Dd is starting therapy, 8 yo with ADHD. I’m primarily hoping it helps her/us to manage big emotions she often has at home with us.

Her therapist mentioned ABA, and I feel like I’ve heard negative things about it. I’m going to research more, just looking for some real world experience. Thanks!

[lilac05]

ABA is *highly* controversial, as you likely already know.

The thing about ABA is that it’s very different from one place to the next. Some are supposedly a lot different and better than others. Some parents sing its praises and say it has done miracles for their family. Some AuDHD and Autistic people will go so far as to say it’s traumatic and almost abusive. Few people tend to think, “Eh…it’s alright. You do you.”

Granted I’m not up to date on current ABA research, especially regarding “just” ADHD, but I would not be interested. I’d actually do some more research and consider whether to continue seeing this therapist if that’s what they recommended for my child.

ETA: Careful with AI as you’re researching this. A Quick Look for me looked like the AI answers on Google were treating ABA and Behavior Therapy as the same thing. The summary said that ABA is recommended by the CDC before medication for ADHD…but when I went to the CDC site, it just says “Behavior Therapy” (which generally means CBT or other therapy forms by a therapist, not ABA done by Behavior Analysts and Behavior Techs).

[waverly]

I do not have personal experience with ABA. However, I will say that I am in an online group for executive function delays, and a lot of them have ADHD, and it has never been recommended there. I thought it was something that happened more for the autism diagnosis, and yes, I have also heard that it is very controversial. I personally would stay away as it is not appropriate for ADHD. OT would tend to be more appropriate for ADHD for sensory seeking/ avoiding and executive function. Some speech therapists also work on the executive function side.

[penguingrrl]

I was under the impression that ABA required an autism diagnosis to be eligible for it, although i might be mistaken.

It is highly controversial and was started by the same doctor who started gay conversion therapy, and with the same mindset of trying to push down who you are and conform to societal standards.

I don’t like what I’ve read about it, but we also may be setting some up for our 15 year old. We’ve spent years trying to avoid it, but need help in our home to get her to go to school in the morning, and ABA is the only type of therapy that exists that offers that type of service. We are going to be very picky to make sure we get a warm, empathetic person who isn’t focused on stupid things like eye contact but is able to support her in the morning because right now H and I together take up to 4 hours to get her out the door and that’s not sustainable.

[lucybrown]

Ditto lilac05 . It is controversial and please do your own research. I'll share my opinion, though I won't pretend it's unbiased.

I was a line therapist in an ABA clinic during college and have experience firsthand. I also have ADHD and two neurodivergent kids. I honestly can't see how traditional ABA would help ADHD, particularly with emotional regulation. The very root of ABA is behavioral training by using reinforcers to increase desired behaviors. Not cognitive or emotional strategies. Behavioral training. In my experience, ABA was used to suppress less desired behaviors (ie: tantrums) and increase desired behaviors. There was little focus on building healthy strategies to manage big feelings. I would expect ABA to train her to mask her feelings more vs. actually work through them in healthier ways.

Behavior is communication, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Emotional immaturity and difficulty regulating big feelings are part of ADHD for many. My own kids have gained many skills in emotional regulation through various other types of therapy. Occupational, speech, art/play, and CBT therapies have all been very positive for us.