On autism: “Autism is not a behavioral disorder, but a package of complex processing differences. It is a different human condition, not a set of behavioral symptoms.“

Yes!

To add to what has been said in the comments. I think a huge issue with the people in this field is that...

They do not know what they do not know. Unlike other therapeutic practitioners, or doctors and scientists, BCBAs typically do not have education in human anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, etc. They do not understand the physiological component of the human condition, which can explain a lot about someone's "behavior".

They also appear to not know about the advances being made in neuroscience. Do they know about the recent studies showing brain matter and composition differences in those with ASD? Do they know researchers are trying to find ways to diagnose ASD with biomarkers (e.g., brain imaging)? Do they even know how these brain differences may be linked to sensory processing issues? Emotional dysregulation? At a basic level, do they even know how information is processed within the brain? Do they know how communication/behavior/abilities are affected when certain parts of the brain are damaged? What about inhibitory neurotransmitters in GABA pathways being linked to information overload in those with ASD?

They often claim they don't need to know about these things because it doesn't change how the behaviors in ASD are treated. BUT it does. Knowing these things makes it hard to dismiss why those with ASD who had ABA therapy are diagnosed with PTSD in larger numbers than those who didn't. Knowing about the possible physiological components of ASD means that BCBAs have to acknowledge that "tantrums" may simply occur because the brain of that child is OVERLOADED with sensory input and there is no function or reinforcement for this at play. The uncontrollable screaming and crying is just a physiological side effect of the synaptic pathways essentially being on "fire" and being unable to work properly. This is all just the tip of the iceberg. My mind is jumbled with so many thoughts I don't even know if any of this is coherent.

What I think is most important is that understanding the physiological aspect of ASD elicits more compassion and more understanding. It forces behavior analysts to think outside their limited view of the human condition and recognize that not everything falls within the four functions, not every behavior occurs because it is reinforced, sometimes there is no MO. The human brain (and especially the human brain of someone with ASD) is far too complex to be "treated" by the confines of behaviorism.

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