WHAT EXACTLY IS APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND HOW CAN IT HELP CHILDREN?

By Janie Funk,?Ph.D, BCBA-D, Clinical Director for Behaven Kids

While you may have heard of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, you may not know that ABA is the careful and systematic application of empirically derived principles of behavior to solve individual and societal challenges. Scientist-practitioners in the field of behavior analysis have developed various forms of ABA therapy that have been used for over 50 years. ABA interventions have demonstrated socially significant outcomes in many populations and in a wide variety of settings. People often associate ABA with the treatment of developmental conditions, including and especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In this article, we'll take a detailed look at ABA therapy, and how it can help children with ASD and other behavioral challenges. By the end, you will have a better understanding of this form of therapy and how it might be situated in a treatment plan for a child with ASD and will be able to better decide whether ABA might be right for a child.

Why ABA for ASD?

A distinguishing feature of ABA therapy for ASD is its foundation in the science of behavior and learning, which involves meticulous observation of an individual’s behavior, how others’ behavior impacts the individual, and then using the information derived from those observations to bring about socially-significant results, via either changes in the environment or in how others interact with the subject—typically both.

Simply put, ABA is a systematic process that involves identifying the barriers to a high quality of life for the individual with ASD and working with the individual’s strengths and support system to overcome those barriers. Practitioners can adjust the intensity, or dosage, of ABA therapy quickly and multiple times without many of the concerns that come with changes in medication regimens.

ABA therapy has been extensively researched and is considered an evidence-based treatment for ASD. In fact, the?American Psychological Association?has recognized ABA therapy as an effective form of treatment for ASD.

What to Expect when Starting ABA Services

ABA therapy is conducted by trained professionals who are certified by a credentialing organization and practice according to the governing code of ethics. All credentialed practitioners are not necessarily competent to provide ABA therapy for children with ASD; they need to have specialized training and experience in the specific population and form of therapy. When identifying a practitioner, ask them to speak to their scope of practice and why they consider themselves competent to provide ABA therapy for a child with ASD.

At the onset of services, practitioners collaborate with the child and their family to identify meaningful goals for the child and family. This process can involve multiple assessments, including observations of the child in family, school, and day care settings, depending on the child’s skills and immediate needs. One component of ABA therapy is the emphasis on meaningful goals. The objective is to support the child and their family in areas that improve the child’s quality of life, such as self-determination, interpersonal relations, social inclusion, and emotional well-being.

Once goals are identified and agreed upon between the practitioner, child, and family, practitioners begin their work with the child on a one-to-one basis to teach them new skills and strengthen current skills. If the child demonstrates challenging behaviors that interfere with their progress, the practitioner will implement strategies to prevent and reduce the interfering behavior. ABA therapy is typically conducted in daily one-on-one sessions with the child, but the length and frequency of sessions will depend on the individual child’s needs. In some cases, ABA therapy may also be delivered in a group of the child’s peers. This is especially helpful to teach social skills.

Practitioners also work directly with the parents. Sessions with parents are primarily focused on teaching them support strategies used in one-on-one sessions with the child. When parents employ the support strategies beyond the child’s therapy sessions, the child benefits from increased consistency in their day-to-day lives. Parents typically meet with the practitioner at least once weekly to receive guidance and support, as well as to provide the practitioner with updates on how the child is doing in settings outside of therapy settings.

In some cases, the practitioners will consult with the child’s educators or other caretakers who are involved in the child’s care and contribute to the child’s success. Like with parent sessions, the practitioner may provide training on the support strategies used in the child’s therapy sessions. The educators or other caretakers can also share their unique insight with the practitioner. Interactions are collaborative.

Whether the practitioner is working directly with the child, parents, or educators, the focus is on the specific needs of the child and the behavior support strategies that will be least intrusive and most effective in supporting the child to meet their goals. As such, ABA therapy is highly individualized for each child.

It is important to note that ABA therapy is not a quick solution to ridding a family of unwanted behaviors of their child. ABA requires dedication and commitment from everyone on the child’s support team. With consistency and patience, ABA therapy can be an effective way to bring about lasting change.

How Can ABA Help Children?

ABA is indeed a demonstrably effective treatment for ASD and other neurodivergences. It can help children with ASD acquire new skills, such as communication, social skills and self-care skills. ABA can also help to reduce challenging or harmful behaviors, such as aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior.

In addition, ABA has been shown to improve cognitive skills, such as attention, memory and reasoning. ABA can also improve academic performance and increase their independence across many life skills. Evidence of ABA therapy has even demonstrated outcomes including increased IQ scores of children.