Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is most commonly used with children with autism, but can also be effective for intellectual disabilities, Down Syndrome, or severe ADHD. ABA is an Intensive Behavioral Health Service (IBHS) known for improving communication, social skills, self-care, and overall independence through a flexible and individualized approach. ABA therapy is evidence based and typically covered by insurance companies with a behavioral health diagnosis.
A few things that ABA can help with include:
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Daily living skills
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Language and communication skills
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Self-care skills
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Play and leisure skills
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Social skills
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Community participation
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Safety skills
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Self-management
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Challenging behaviors
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Aggression and self-injury
2. Who can receive ABA Therapy?
At Hummingbird ABA Therapy, our primary area of expertise is with children ages 2-10, but we can occasionally take individuals older than 10 if they have limited communication skills or struggle with daily living tasks that have not been successful with other less intensive therapies.
3. What does ABA Therapy look like at Hummingbird ABA Therapy?
Hummingbird ABA provides each child with a behavioral team consisting of a variety of ABA providers, including a Masters Level ABA Supervisor (either a Behavior Consultant or Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and 1-3 Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) or Asst. Behavior Consultants (ABCs). Most clients receive 10-25 hours of direct ABA therapy per week in our center, their home, or their school settings, although some may have a clinical need for less or more than that.
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Hummingbird ABA Therapy offers ABA Therapy in our State College center or in your home, school, or community settings, as well as via telehealth when needed. We use neurodiversity affirming practices, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Skills Based Treatment (SBT), and trauma informed care. We believe in not just teaching children appropriate skills to reduce unsafe or problematic behaviors, but also teaching self-advocacy and awareness. Your child will work with a team of trained professionals, including a Board Certified Behavior analyst (BCBA) or a licensed Behavior Consultant (BC-ABA), and either Assistant Behavior Consultants (ABC-ABA) or Behavioral Health Technicians (BHT-ABA) to implement their ABA therapy.
4. What insurances do you take?
For ABA Therapy, we currently accept Aetna, Geisinger, Capital Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, UPMC, Cigna, United Healthcare/Optum, and Magellan, as well as PA Medical Assistance (CCBH).
It is important to note that if your child does not have an autism diagnosis, commercial insurance will not typically cover ABA services, but it will be covered by Medical Assistance. If your child does not currently have Medical Assistance (which they should qualify for if they have a diagnosis that qualifies them for ABA Therapy), it is recommended that you apply online at the Compass Website in order to ensure coverage for services.
If you have a question about payments/billing, please reach out to billing@hummingbirdaba.com.
For Occupational Therapy, we take Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Capital Blue Cross. We also allow for families to pay privately for Occupational Therapy if they do not have one of our in-network insurances for occupational therapy.
