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734-466-5150
31153 Plymouth Road #105 | Livonia, MI 48150
INFO@ZELEXA.COM
FAQ
You can call or email Zelexa at 734-466-5150 or info@zelexatherapy.com to inquire about services. Include your child’s name, age, and insurance and one of our team members will contact you with your necessary paperwork!
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a science dedicated to the understanding and improvement of human behavior. ABA is a scientific approach for identifying environmental variables that influence behavior of social significance and for systematically developing a functionally related methodology to program for behavior change. Additionally, ABA focuses on skill acquisition. Skill acquisition can occur when a behavior analyst is teaching a new, functionally related alternative behavior (to replace an inappropriate problem behavior) or to teach academic, self-care, motor, social skills, etc.
There is no hard and fast rule that guarantees the same results for every child. However, a consistent program with dedicated and qualified BCBAs and Behavior Technicians will ensure each child continues to reach their optimal goals. ABA Therapy is used to improve behaviors such as; social skills, reading, academics, and communication as well as learned skills like grooming, hygiene, fine motor dexterity, job proficiency and even simple things like a child keeping his room clean.
Many children with autism may show developmental differences as babies, especially in areas of language and social development.
The aforementioned behaviors are not immediate indicators of autism. However, if you have observed any of these behaviors, contact your pediatrician immediately for information about the evaluation process.
- Early signs include:
- -No babbling or pointing by 12 months
- -No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2
- -Repeats exactly what others say without understanding the meaning
- -Child does not respond to name
- -Difficulty making or maintaining eye contact
- -Does not point to indicate needs or wants
- -Repetitive, stereotyped behavior
- -No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2
- Childhood signs include:
- -Difficulty maintaining or keeping eye contact
- -Unable to perceive other feelings or thoughts via facial expressions
- -Uninterested in or unable to make friends with peers
- -Pronoun confusion
- -Does not start or difficulty continuing a conversation
- -Difficulty using toys or objects for pretend play
- -Rote memory for numbers, letters, books, songs, but unable to answer conversational questions
- -Insists on routines, difficulty with change, obsessions with rituals
- -Obsessed with (often unusual) activities, repeating them continuously throughout the day
- -Unable to perceive other feelings or thoughts via facial expressions
The aforementioned behaviors are not immediate indicators of autism. However, if you have observed any of these behaviors, contact your pediatrician immediately for information about the evaluation process.
Therapy can take place in the home, center, or school setting depending on what is appropriate for each child.
A BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) is a person with a graduate level certification in behavior analysis. They are board certified in the ability to provide and supervise behavior analysis. They will be in charge of overseeing Behavior Technicians as they work towards your child's therapy program.
The BCBA is responsible for conducting assessments to identify deficits, designing programs that address your child’s individual needs, and providing ongoing supervision to your child’s primary behavior technician. Your behavior analyst will address those needs using research-based methodologies.
- Your BCBA will:
- -Observe your child's behavior in a variety of environments, to develop an accurate picture of his or her current learning strengths and needs.
- -Interact with your child weekly to assess your child’s language, behavior, social interaction, and other developmental domains.
- -Train family members, so that your child will use his or her new skills across the many people and places in his or her natural environment
- -Interact with your child weekly to assess your child’s language, behavior, social interaction, and other developmental domains.
The BT is a position responsible for delivering 1:1 instruction. These behavior technicians put in place behavior plans developed by the BCBA. They collect critical data and maintaining a quality relationship with parents and kiddos. The BCBA, the lead therapist on any case, creates treatment plans, but it is the behavior technician who spends most of the time with the child or teenager. They provider support for the families. Most importantly, they follow therapeutic ABA programs. This ensures children are meeting their goals with the support of their therapist.
A therapist must take part in 40 hours of training material. At the same time, they must work under the supervision of a BCBA. Then they must pass several competency exams before they are registered. Once they become more qualified to provide 1:1 ABA programs for kids with autism.
Some Behavior Technicians are not RBTs yet. At Zelexa, we provide each ABA therapist the opportunity to become an RBT. It is key for all Behavior Technicians to have the experience and education necessary to provide high-quality ABA support.
Some Behavior Technicians are not RBTs yet. At Zelexa, we provide each ABA therapist the opportunity to become an RBT. It is key for all Behavior Technicians to have the experience and education necessary to provide high-quality ABA support.
The amount of ABA therapy needed will need depend on a variety of factors. After completing an initial assessment, your BCBA will be able to assess your child’s strengths and weaknesses, developing a comprehensive plan tailored to your child’s needs. The BCBA will be able to tell you how many hours per week will be needed to ensure your child successfully benefits from ABA therapy.
Zelexa accepts many major insurances and private pay. For costs, please contact Zelexa for more information on rates.
Contact Zelexa for an initial short intake call, our team seeks to understand what you are looking to achieve and what we can do to simplify the process. Zelexa will then confirm your insurance eligibility for ABA therapy. Then we follow up to schedule an assessment
Zelexa serves ages 2-22 years old.
Yes! Here at Zelexa our therapy is one-on-one: one child, one Behavior Technician.
At Zelexa, safety for your child and our staff is our number one priority. Every employee of Zelexa Therapy is required to complete and pass a variety of background checks, assessments, a multi-stage interview process, and reference checks.
If you have started ABA Therapy, you may have heard the term ABC Data. In some cases, the Board-Certified Behavior therapist (BCBA) will ask parents to record ABC Data after sessions. ABC stands for Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence.
The method includes observing a behavior directly. The tool is used to understand the function. The function of the behavior helps determine a program. The Behavior Technicians teach skills that will allow the child to communicate their needs appropriately.
- Antecedent
- The events, action, or circumstances that occur before a behavior.
- Behavior
- The behavior that occurred.
- Consequences
- The action or response that follows the behavior.
The method includes observing a behavior directly. The tool is used to understand the function. The function of the behavior helps determine a program. The Behavior Technicians teach skills that will allow the child to communicate their needs appropriately.
Determining a child’s initial goals is only one step. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an ongoing process. Programs are assessed on a regular basis. Each time a child masters a skill we get a chance to work on the next one. Every child starts to grow and thrive from day one!
- Process for Goal Setting and Assessment:
- Discuss Background and Goals with Parents
- BCBA administers a formal initial assessment
- The Learning Tree: Assessment score and parent input drive initial goals.
- Behavior Technicians get baseline data on these goals.
- BCBA creates treatment programs to address goals.
- Children practice skills with their Behavior Technician until goal is mastered.
- Ongoing data analysis shows skill progress and growth.
- BCBA assesses treatment progress on a regular basis.
- Treatment plan is updated to reach new goals.
- Children build upon skills every day to reach unimaginable goals!
- BCBA administers a formal initial assessment
It is common for children to also be enrolled in Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy. We view these providers as valuable resources! If your child is receiving speech or occupational services from another provider, we seek to partner with them in an effort to provide a more comprehensive treatment plan.