Behavioral assessments help us understand why a child’s challenging behaviors happen and which skills they need to build. At Avant-Garde Behavioral Therapy, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) completes an individualized assessment for young children, adolescents, and teenagers and uses the results to design your child’s ABA treatment plan. Call the Davie, Florida, office or visit our Get Started page to begin.
What are behavioral assessments?
In ABA therapy, a behavioral assessment looks at a child’s behaviors, skills, and how they interact with their environment.
Assessments can help young children, adolescents, and teenagers with conditions like:
- Adjustment disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Behavioral assessments are not diagnostic testing. Instead, the assessments at Avant-Garde Behavioral Therapy look at a child’s strengths and needs.
When should I schedule behavioral assessments for my child?
Schedule a behavioral assessment at Avant-Garde Behavioral Therapy if your child displays unusual or negative behavior patterns that interfere with their success at home, in school, or socially.
Types of behaviors that can benefit from an assessment include:
- Hyperactivity
- Aggression
- Angry outbursts
- Learning challenges
- Reckless or risky behaviors
- Disruptive behaviors at home or in the classroom
The goal of a behavioral assessment is to observe your child’s behaviors, so the team can identify their cause. For instance, a child who constantly interrupts the teacher may display these negative behaviors because they don’t understand the material or because they want the extra attention.
Assessments give the therapy team important insights about what your child needs to engage in more positive behaviors.
What happens during behavioral assessments?
The behavioral assessments available at Avant-Garde Behavioral Therapy use several strategies to uncover more information about your child’s behaviors, including:
Questionnaires
The team provides questionnaires for parents, caregivers, and teachers to complete that provide more details about your child’s behaviors in specific situations and environments.
Observations
Observational sessions allow the therapy team to assess your child’s behaviors during age-appropriate activities.
Interviews
The therapy team may request to meet with adults who interact with your child to identify behavioral challenges that need treatment.
Based on the results of your child’s assessment, the BCBA creates an ABA treatment plan with goals for your child’s communication, social, daily-living, and behavior needs. The plan includes BCBA-led parent training and ongoing progress tracking.
Call Avant-Garde Behavioral Therapy at (954) 708-1661 or visit our Get Started page to begin.