Frequently Asked Questions
Information about autism
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. As children impacted by autism become adolescents and young adults, they may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with peers and adults, or understanding what behaviors are appropriate or expected in school or on the job.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder.
What are common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects brain development, impacting how children perceive the world and interact with others. Researchers have made strides in identifying various symptoms; however keep this in mind that symptoms of autism in children present differently in everyone. Avoid comparing your child’s symptoms to another child’s, and speak with a licensed physician or psychiatrist.
Social Behaviors
Your child may avoid looking at you, not enjoy interacting with you, or dominate conversations on subjects they are interested in. They may feel uncomfortable initiating conversation or not pick up on how others feel.
- Makes little or no eye contact
- Doesn’t respond when someone calls their name or speaks to them
- Doesn’t speak or has delayed speech
- Speaks in an unusual tone of voice, such as sing-song or flat and robot-like
- Lacks facial expression or makes facial expressions that don’t match the situation
- Fails to point or show objects to others
- Has difficulty starting or holding a conversation
- Enters conversation inappropriately, i.e., with aggressive or disruptive behavior
- Has difficulty recognizing and responding to nonverbal cues, i.e., other’s facial expressions or posture
Restrictive Behaviors
Another defining characteristic of autism is restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. Children diagnosed with autism may be insistent on sameness, such as completing the same tasks in the exact same order every time. They may feel anxious or frustrated if something breaks their routine. These behaviors can be problematic in everyday life and affect their ability to engage in social and leisure activities.
- Making repetitive movements (spinning, rocking, flapping hands)
- Performing self-harming behaviors such as biting or head-banging
- Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
- Demonstrating an intense interest in certain topics such as mechanics or an era in history
- Being overly focused on certain objects, such as moving or spinning parts of a toy
- Getting upset by a change in routine, even if it seems small
- Being more or less sensitive than others to light, sound, touch, and temperature
- Only eating specific foods or refusing to eat foods with a certain texture
Difficulties with Speech and Language
Many children diagnosed with ASD struggle to express their thoughts and feelings and to communicate with others. Similar to difficulties with social behavior, speech and communication problems can cause a child great frustration.
Sensory Problems
Although sensory problems are not part of autism’s official diagnostic criteria, many children experience sensitivity to outside stimuli, making them feel uncomfortable, anxious, or afraid.
How early can a child be diagnosed with autism?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children be screened for autism between 18 and 24 months to benefit from early intervention therapies, like ABA therapy. Parents may notice atypical behaviors or developmental delays just a few months into a child’s life; however, many children are not diagnosed until they present more obvious symptoms around the age of 18 months or older.
How do I know if I should get a diagnosis?
If you believe your child is not reaching their milestones, the recommended first step is having them screened by a medical professional to check for developmental delays. A screening is not a diagnosis, but can show whether a child is on the right development track. If a screening identifies an area of concern, a formal developmental evaluation may need to be performed by a trained specialist, such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or clinical psychologist. The results and diagnosis will help you understand whether your child needs special treatments or early intervention services.
Know that an autism diagnosis will not change who your child is. It is simply a way of helping you understand your child and how to best support them.
What are early intervention services?
Congress established early intervention (EI) services in 1986 as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). EI provides a variety of services for children from birth until age six intended to promote positive growth in physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. IDEA requires that children suspected to have developmental delays receive a comprehensive developmental evaluation to determine whether or not they qualify for speech, occupational, and/or physical therapy; psychological; vision and audiology services; and more. In some cases, an Annual Family Program Fee (AFPF) may be accessed.
About Opya
What is Opya?
Opya specializes in providing early intervention therapy for children diagnosed with autism and 18 months old to 6 years old. Research shows that the most effective treatment to improve outcomes, e.g., adaptive behaviors, communication skills, cognitive abilities, for children with autism is through early intervention programs. Early intervention autism therapy aims to bridge the gap between a child’s current functioning and that of their same-age peers.
We offer autism therapy services tailored to meet the needs of your child. From speech and occupational therapies to help your child better communicate and function, to ABA therapy to address problem behaviors, our services make a real difference. As part of our ABA program, we also offer parent/caregiver training to help you better understand and support your child. Opya is proud to have earned a 3-year Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) accreditation. We are changing how autism care is delivered for children diagnosed with autism.
What is Opya’s multidisciplinary approach, and why is this important?
Because every child diagnosed with autism is different, therapists must employ treatment solutions that take the child’s unique circumstances into account. At Opya, we pride ourselves on our multidisciplinary approach to autism therapy, which draws on the expertise of a variety of professionals, including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and behavior analysts. This comprehensive approach allows us to develop an individualized treatment plan for each child in our care.
What does an ABA therapy program entail?
Early intervention ABA therapy at Opya is completely individualized. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan because each child is different and unique. Each treatment plan is written to meet the needs of the child. A board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) will design and oversee the plan to address the child’s skill needs, deficits, interests, as well as family preferences. These are all used to determine treatment goals in different skill areas. We use multiple assessment tools to ensure that programming is progressing. Goals are adjusted as the child progresses, and the BCBA will meet regularly with the family for parent/caregiver training.
Where does Opya provide services?
Opya is actively serving families in Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Sacramento Area, and Central Valley) and in Southern California (Orange County, Los Angeles County). Click here to see if we’re currently providing services in your area.
How do I get started?
Begin your child’s autism therapy journey in just a few steps:
Step 1: Our Getting to Know Your Child and Intake Completion
Speak with our Client Services team to determine if your child would benefit from our early intervention autism therapy model. Complete our intake process, which includes a courtesy check on your insurance coverage to ensure treatment is covered.
Step 2: Assessment and Treatment Plan Creation
One of our board-certified clinicians will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your child to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Step 3: Care Team Assignment and Ongoing Treatment
Receive a therapy schedule for your child, meet your clinical care team, and begin daily treatment sessions. We will also provide regular parent training and resources to support you in your child’s treatment journey.
Reach out today using our online form or call us at (888) 300 – OPYA (6792) to get started today.
Does Opya offer therapy services in languages other than English?
All individuals receiving treatment have the right to access treatment in their primary language. When possible, Opya will assign a clinical team that can communicate with the client and family in their primary language. Please let us know your preferred language for oral and written communication. Translation services are provided through your healthcare plan in any language, and when requested, Opya will work with your payor to provide interpreter/translation services.
Insurance Coverage
What insurance plans do you accept?
Opya is in network with most major commercial payors and some Medi-Cal plans. Check here to see if we accept your health insurance plan.
Are autism therapies covered by insurance?
Our Intake team can help you navigate the terms of your insurance policy. Your plan type determines which benefits may be available to you. The State of California has a specific autism mandate, which requires certain insurers to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorder. The mandates require all health care service plans that provide hospital, medical, or surgical coverage to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism. Treatments include professional services and treatment, including applied behavior analysis and evidence-based behavior intervention programs, which include speech-language pathology and audiology.