What Is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a type of therapeutic intervention that can

improve social, communication, and learning skills through reinforcement
techniques. In addition to improving general adaptive behaviours, such as social
skills, learning skills, it can focus on specific skill learning such as fine motor
dexterity, hygiene, grooming, etc. Some also call it Autism Behavioural Therapy
but it’s just one of ABA’s applications. ABA is effective for both children and
adults with psychological conditions in a variety of settings, including schools,
homes, and clinics. It has also been shown that consistent ABA therapy can
significantly improve positive skills and behaviours and decrease the need for
special services in the future
ABA therapy programs can help:
● Improve language and communication skills
● Increase a en on, focus, social skills, memory and academics
● Reduce the occurrence of behavioral problems
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy based on the psychology
of learning and behavioural trades. ABA therapy applies the understanding of
how behaviour works in real-life situations, to increase behaviours that are
helpful and decrease behaviours that are harmful or affect learning. Applied
Behaviour Analysis involves several techniques for understanding and changing
behaviour. ABA is a form of flexible treatment that can be adapted to meet the
needs of each unique person. It can also be provided in many different locations
– at home, at school and in the community. ABA therapy can involve one-to-one
teaching or group instruction. ABA therapy programs can help:
A qualified behavioural psychologist designs and directly oversees the program.
They customize the ABA program to the child’s skills, needs, interests,
preferences and family circumstances. The ABA program is started with a
detailed assessment of the child’s existing skills and preferences in order to
formulate specific treatment goals. Treatment goals are decided after taking
into consideration the age and ability level of the child with autism. Goals can
include different skill areas, such as:
● Communica on and language
● Social skills
● Self-care behaviours
● Play and leisure
● Motor skills
● Learning and academic skills

The instruction plan breaks down each of these skills into small, concrete steps.
The therapist teaches each step one by one, from simple (e.g. imitating single
sounds) to more complex (e.g. carrying on a conversation). Progress is measured
by collecting data in each therapy session. Data helps to monitor the child’s
progress toward goals on an ongoing basis.
The therapist regularly meets with family members to review information about
progress in order to plan ahead and adjust teaching plans and goals accordingly.
5 Techniques Used in Applied Behaviour Analysis
Applied Behaviour Analysis involves several techniques to produce desired
results in children who can benefit from behaviour modification. Here are five
of those valuable techniques:
Positive Reinforcement
A child with special needs who face difficulties in learning or social interaction
may not know how to respond in certain situations. One way to encourage
positive social behaviours involves using positive reinforcement immediately to
encourage the behaviour in the future.
Negative Reinforcement
When maladaptive behaviours occur, the behaviour needs to be corrected
immediately. A good way to correct bad behaviour is to remove a desired object
or activity from the child. This is a form of non-aversive punishment. More
importantly, negative reinforcement should be consistent for the child to
understand the relevance of the action and consequence.
Using prompts and cues
Prompts are visual or verbal cues used to encourage a particular behaviour.
Verbal cues are gentle reminders while visual cues are even less direct and might
be a gesture or a look of your eyes. The child will see this cue and be reminded
to behave in a simple way. Examples could be taking their shoes off when
walking into the house or washing their hands before a meal. The idea is to
eventually fade out the prompts when the child no longer needs them. The
prompts can be helpful because they are typically not intimidating or
accusatory.
Task Analysis
This is an analysis model of current behavioural trends and actions to help learn
about the child rather than correct or reinforce the behaviour. The child
psychologist gives the child a task and observes how they perform it. This
analysis is broken down into a number of categories:
● Physical ac ons
● Cogni ve ac ons
● Repe on
● Alloca on
● Environment
Once the therapist has analysed how the child performs tasks, this information
is used to make other tasks easier for the particular child by breaking them down
into steps that will be easily understood by the child.
Generalization
Through this model, the therapist takes what the child has learned in one
instance and applies it to other instances. For example, if a child knows how to
say the alphabet when singing it, the child psychologist can take their knowledge
of the alphabet and try to apply it to teaching the child to spell out their name.
Children with special needs benefit the most from personalized and special
assistance. Therapists who use applied behaviour analysis use these particular
techniques and others that help make children who need a little more help
independent, well-adjusted and happy adults.

Types of ABA Therapy

A number of different types of interventions can be used as part of ABA

therapy.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

Discrete trial training (DTT) involves breaking a skill down and teaching it step-
by-step. The three components of this process include:

 The antecedent (a cue that triggers the behavior)

 The behavior (the response to the cue)
 The conclusion (what happens after the response)
When the behavior has been successfully produced, the individual will receive
positive reinforcement, but will not be rewarded if they do not successfully
produce the desired response.

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)

This approach may be used in young children to teach social, adaptive,

communication, and functional skills. It is usually highly individualized, intensive,
and comprehensive.

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

This technique is based on applied behavior analysis and is often used for
children with autism between the ages of 12 and 48 months. It utilizes play
activities to help foster cognitive, social, and language skills.

Natural Environment Training

After people have acquired skills through discrete trial training, they then begin
learning and practicing those skills in more natural environments. For example,
a child may learn a specific skill and then begin practicing it at home or in school.

ABA therapy is also often delivered in two different ways. It can be used as a
comprehensive program that provides intensive intervention in many
environments and situations. Or, it can be part of a more focused program that
may involve only specific behaviours or situations.

Comprehensive ABA Therapy

This approach delivers treatments that usually last for several hours each day. A
therapist or behavior technician works with the individual for at least several
hours each week and often in different contexts, such as in both home and
school settings. Therapists work directly with the individual but may also work
with parents and caregivers to teach skills that can be used outside of ABA
therapy sessions.
Focused ABA Therapy

This type of treatment may focus on helping an individual in a specific situation

where they are facing difficulty. It may also focus on specific skills that an
individual needs to work on. The individual often works one-on-one with a
therapist, but they may also practice these skills in small groups or in community
settings.

TREATMENT PLAN
ABA therapy usually involves a few different steps. Treatment plans are tailored
to the needs of the individual.3

 Assessment is the first step of ABA therapy. During this stage, the child or
individual will meet with a therapist, who asks questions about strengths,
weaknesses, needs, and goals. From this information, the professional will
develop a treatment plan.
 Treatment will involve using different techniques to work toward the
individual's goals. Treatment sessions can sometimes be as short as an
hour, but they often last for several hours at a time.
 Caregiver training involves offering support and training to parents and
other caregivers and family members. Therapists teach parents and family
members skills and strategies that will help maintain desirable behaviors
in the home, school, and community settings.

What ABA Therapy Can Help With

ABA Therapy can be used for a variety of conditions, including:

 Anxiety disorders
 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
 Autism spectrum disorders2
 Borderline personality disorder(BPD)
 Developmental disorders
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
 Post-Traumatic stress disorder
 Sleep problems
 Substance use disorders
Benefits of ABA Therapy
ABA therapy doesn't "treat" autism but it can be used to teach desirable
behaviors and to reduce or extinguish undesirable ones. For example, ABA may
be used in autism to reduce tantrums, teach a child to sit quietly, or use words
to make requests. It can also be used to reward a child for simple and complex
skills, like brushing their teeth correctly or sharing a toy with a friend.

Some ways that ABA therapy can impact an individual's life include:

 Acquiring and practicing social skills

 Decreasing problem behaviors
 Developing memory and cognitive abilities
 Improving emotional connections with other people
 Improving language and communication skills
 Improving attention and focus
 Learning daily living skills
 Managing feelings of aggression and anxiety

Things to Consider

ABA is not the only approach to treatment, so it's important to listen and look
at how a person is responding in order to determine which treatment is right for
their needs.

While ABA is widely used today, it's not without controversy. In the past, this
type of treatment involved hours of treatment each day, often done in rigid
environments. Failures to produce desired behaviours were often addressed
with harsh punishments, which were considered both disrespectful to those in
therapy and often dehumanizing.

More recent approaches focus on either applying or withholding reinforcement

and do not involve punishments. Rather than sitting at a desk doing discrete
trials for hours each day, treatment is now often delivered in natural settings,
including the home, school, and community settings.

ABA therapy is often focused on getting people to engage in "typical"

behaviours. Today, there is a greater appreciation and value for neuro- diversity.
Rather than trying to force people to fit a specific mould, newer approaches are
instead focused on helping people develop and strengthen the skills that will
allow them to reach their potential and live a fulfilling life.