Applied Behavior Analysis
Tammi Reynolds, BA & Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a useful method for teaching children with autism spectrum disorder. It is based directly on learning theories developed by behavioral psychologists. The approach focuses on rewarding positive behavior and discouraging negative behavior. This is done by making use of control over rewarding and aversive (not desired) consequences of children's choices. Basically, if children behave in ways that are desirable, they are rewarded. If they behave in ways that are not desirable, they are not rewarded.
ABA leans heavily on several behavioral principles: shaping, chaining and successive approximation. It is difficult to learn new complex behaviors. However, if complex behaviors are broken down into simpler behaviors, the task of learning becomes easier to manage. ABA requires that complex desirable behaviors that therapists hope to teach to children be broken down or analyzed into a series or chain of small doable steps. Instead of trying to teach the entire complex behavior desired all at once, ABA therapists teach only one simple step at a time. As children master each step, the next sequential step is introduced. This chained step approach is effective for teaching children who have difficulty staying focused.
For ABA methods to work well, both therapeutic and home environments must be consistent and organized. Rewards and consequences for various behaviors must be made clear to students always and delivered as promised. Rewards that are not given as promised are not rewarding and will quickly stop having a motivating effect. Similarly, aversive consequences (such as not getting a desired reward) also lose their effectiveness if they are not enforced.
Except for our discussion of Discrete Trial methods in the next section, we won't be going into the details of ABA in this document. If you want more detailed information, we recommend you visit a specialized ABA website, such as the toolkit made available by Autism Speaks here - https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/resources-programs/autism-treatment-network/atn-air-p-applied-behavior-analysis. ABA methods are highly useful for teaching children on the spectrum new skills, such as language and social skills, and for teaching them how to appropriately apply their skills across a variety of settings.
Normally, children acquire language and social skills quite spontaneously and naturally simply by participating in daily life and by observing and modeling other's behavior. Children with autism spectrum disorder cannot and do not pay attention to social models. Because of this, they do not learn these skills spontaneously. If they have learned language or social skills it is because someone has broken down those skills into teachable steps for them and has taken the effort to teach them those skills, step by step. Even when skills have been taught, they will not easily know how to generalize them to new situations. They will require very clear training in how to apply those skills in each different setting. Those with autism spectrum disorder must acquire language and social skills intellectually, the way most children learn how to read or do math skills. ABA methods make this learning process easier to accomplish.
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Articles
- What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions & Supportive Services
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment
- Behavioral and Communication Approaches
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Discrete Trial
- Fluency
- Sensory Integration
- Floortime
- Medication
- Diet and Vitamins
- Complementary Approaches
- Therapeutic Animals
- Helping Families Cope
- Support Groups
- Wraparound Services
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mainstream Public Education
- Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood
- Conclusion
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- An Exact Mind
- Asperger Syndrome and Your Child
- Asperger Syndrome, Adolescence, and Identity
- Asperger's and Girls
- Autism - The Eighth Colour of the Rainbow
- Autism's False Prophets
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
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- Boy Alone
- Can't Eat, Won't Eat
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- Eating an Artichoke
- Educating Children With Autism
- Elijah's Cup
- Exiting Nirvana
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- Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome
- Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom
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- Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome
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- What is Autism?
- Understanding Autism
- Siblings of Children with Autism
- How Weighted Blankets May Lift Anxiety
- Caring for Children and Adolescents with Autism During COVID 19
- 1 in 45 autism prevalence explained
- Autism & Asperger's: What's The Difference?
- Screening for Signs of Autism
- Beyond the Data -- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Treating Autism
- What it’s like to have a brother on the autism spectrum
- iPads and Autism: 3 Features That Make the Tablet Easier to Use
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- Teaching Social Skills to Teens with ASD
- ABA for Teens with ASD
- Customizing ABA Programs for Teens
- Autism Diagnosis and Access to Care in Minority Populations
- From Diagnosis to Treatment: The Revolution Driving Autism Research
- Reducing Disparities in Autism Diagnosis and Access to Care
- Autism Jargon: DRO
- Autism Jargon: NET
- 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of ABA
- Autism Jargon: DTT
- Autism Jargon: Distractor
- Autism Jargon: Theory of Mind
- Autism Jargon: Pica
- Autism Jargon: Fluency
- Autism Jargon: Systematic Desensitization
- Is Asperger’s Included in the DSM5?
- Autism Jargon: Functional Communication Training
- 8 Questions to Ask Your Autism Service Provider
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- Autism Jargon: Establishing Operation
- Autism Jargon: Token Economy
- Treating Anxiety in Children and Teens with ASD
- Autism Jargon: Response Cost
- Teaching Soccer Skills to Kids with ASD
- "Focus on Ability, Not Disability"
- Dr. Tim Shriver: Intellectually Different ... Not Disabled
- P2I: Can We Prevent Autism?
- Autism Jargon: Positive Reinforcement
- Autism Jargon: Negative Reinforcement
- How the Diagnosis of Autism Helps Us Learn More About Autism
- Pathways for Treatments in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Jargon: IEP
- My Inner Life with Asperger's
- Autism Jargon: Least Restrictive Environment
- Dealing with Challenging Behaviors
- How law enforcement and families work together to keep loved ones with autism safe
- Back to School: Homework Help!
- Advice on Telling Your Teen they have ASD
- Social Intervention Helps Adults With Autism
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- Autism Spectrum Disorder: Many Questions Many Answers
- Diagnosing and Treating Autism
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