ABA, OT, Speech or Social Skills: Which Therapy Should Come First?

Prioritise by your child’s biggest daily barrier, not by what’s trending: safety behaviours and severe meltdowns → behaviour support first; not communicating needs → speech/AAC first; can’t tolerate food, clothes, sounds → OT/sensory first. Foundation skills — joint attention, pointing, imitation, following simple instructions — come before higher goals like social skills or academics. And social skills ultimately generalise through real situations with parents and teachers, not just table-top sessions. A good developmental paediatrician or child psychiatrist can help you sequence, and re-prioritise every 6 months.

Disclaimer: This is general information shared for parent awareness, not medical advice. Every child is different — please confirm decisions with your child's doctor or a qualified, RCI-registered professional.

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