Combining ABA with Speech and Occupational Therapy
In short: Combining ABA, speech therapy, and occupational therapy addresses communication, social, sensory, and daily living skills together. These therapies work best when providers coordinate goals and share strategies. A free matching service like Get ABA Therapy can help you find a team that supports this integrated approach.
Key takeaways
- ABA, speech, and OT target different but overlapping areas-behavior, communication, and sensory/motor skills.
- Integrated care prevents fragmented goals and helps your child generalize skills across settings.
- Coordination between therapists is key; regular team meetings or shared notes improve outcomes.
- Insurance often covers ABA, speech, and OT; Medicaid and private plans may include all three.
What Is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science-based therapy that focuses on understanding and improving socially significant behaviors. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) designs individualized programs to teach communication, social skills, self-care, and reduce challenging behaviors through positive reinforcement. ABA is often covered by insurance and state Medicaid programs.
🔗 Related reading: BCBS Utah ABA Therapy Deductible: What to Expect · Local ABA Therapy
What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech-language pathology (speech therapy) helps children develop communication skills-expressive language (saying words and sentences), receptive language (understanding others), articulation, social communication (pragmatics), and augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) if needed. Speech therapists (SLPs) work on both verbal and nonverbal communication.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on helping children participate meaningfully in daily activities (occupations). For a child, that includes play, self-care (dressing, feeding), fine motor skills (writing, cutting), sensory processing, and regulation. An occupational therapist creates strategies to manage sensory sensitivities and build independence.
🔗 Related reading: Home vs Center Based ABA for 3-Year-Olds: Which Is Best? · Local ABA Therapy
Why Combine These Therapies?
A child with autism often has needs that span behavior, communication, and sensory-motor domains. When ABA, speech, and OT work together, progress in one area supports growth in another. For example, a child who learns to request a snack in ABA can practice that skill during a speech session, while OT may address the sensory defensiveness that affects mealtimes.
How They Complement Each Other
- ABA + Speech: ABA reinforces communication goals using naturalistic teaching-requesting, labeling, commenting. Speech provides specialized techniques like PROMPT or AAC assessment. Together, they build functional language.
- ABA + OT: ABA can address self-help routines (toileting, hand washing) while OT breaks down the motor steps and addresses sensory barriers. Self-regulation strategies from OT can be reinforced using ABA token systems.
- All Three: During group play, an SLP targets social scripts, an OT addresses spatial awareness and sensory modulation, and a BCBA designs reinforcement for turn-taking and joint attention.
Real-Life Example
Consider a 4-year-old who avoids touching messy textures, has limited words, and has tantrums during transitions. OT creates a sensory diet with brushing and deep pressure; speech teaches the child to say "more" or use a picture card; ABA sets up a visual schedule and rewards calm transitions. Over weeks, the child's meltdowns decrease and communication increases.
What to Expect in a Combined Approach
Providers who collaborate share goals and data. You might attend a joint session where the SLP models a communication target, the OT adjusts the environment for sensory comfort, and the behavior technician collects data on mands (requests). Communication between teams is essential.
Coordination Between Therapists
Look for clinics where BCBAs, SLPs, and OTs hold regular meetings or share electronic notes. Ask during intake: "How do you coordinate with other therapists on my child's team?" The free matching service at Get ABA Therapy can help you find programs that prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration.
Sample Weekly Schedule
- Monday: 2 hours ABA (morning), 1 hour speech (afternoon)
- Tuesday: 2 hours ABA, 1 hour OT
- Wednesday: 1 hour combined ABA/speech session (if available)
- Thursday: 2 hours ABA, 1 hour OT
- Friday: 1 hour ABA (parent training), 1 hour speech
This is just one possibility; schedules vary based on your child's needs, insurance, and provider availability.
Insurance and Costs
ABA, speech, and occupational therapy are often covered by commercial insurance and state Medicaid plans (e.g., Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment, EPSDT). Many plans require a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and a prescription from a doctor. Co-pays, deductibles, and session limits vary. Get ABA Therapy is a free service that matches you with in-network providers who accept your plan, including Medicaid. You pay only what your insurance requires.
If you don't have insurance, some states offer early intervention programs (Part C) that provide speech and OT at low or no cost. Check with your local school district for preschool special education services, which may include these therapies.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Share information across providers: Give written consent for therapists to talk to each other. Keep a binder or shared digital folder with goals, progress notes, and strategies that work.
- Be consistent at home: Use the same language and routines the therapists recommend. For example, if the SLP teaches "I need help" and the OT uses "sensory break," practice both daily.
- Prioritize goals: You may not be able to do all three therapies at high intensity at once. Work with your team to decide what is most critical right now-often communication and self-regulation come first.
- Celebrate small wins: Progress may be slow. A single new word or tolerating toothbrushing for five seconds is a victory.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming all therapists communicate automatically: They may not unless you facilitate. Ask for permission to share reports.
- Overwhelming your child: Too many hours of therapy without breaks can lead to burnout. Build in unstructured play and rest.
- Choosing therapies in isolation: A speech goal that contradicts an ABA goal (e.g., ignoring an SLP's AAC recommendation) confuses the child. Insist on alignment.
How to Get Started
Begin by requesting a free referral from Get ABA Therapy. Our service connects you with BCBA-led providers who often work alongside speech and occupational therapists. Tell your matchmaker that you're interested in integrated care, and they can prioritize clinics with a multidisciplinary team. You can also ask your child's pediatrician for a referral to a developmental pediatrician or early intervention program for an evaluation.
Remember, you are your child's best advocate. Combining ABA with speech and OT gives them a strong foundation for communication, independence, and joy. Reach out today to start building their team.