Join us as we go in depth into the topic of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy over the next few blog posts. Please feel free to send in any follow up questions or comments that you would like to see addressed.
Do you know what ABA therapy is? Do you know who ABA therapy is for? Do you know the ABA therapy evaluation process and how goals and objectives are determined? How does ABA teach new skills? How is it different from other teaching methods? Let me broaden your picture by expanding on your understanding of ABA therapy and all of it’s components.
What is ABA?
ABA is the science of studying human behavior. Everything that we as humans is behavior. A “behavior” is anything that is observable and measurable. Looking at someone, walking, talking, and eating are all components of human behavior. ABA therapy is a scientific evidence based teaching method that identifies skill deficits (developmental behaviors that need to be taught) and challenging behaviors that are impeding that learning.
Who is ABA for?
Having said that the teaching procedures of ABA are implemented to shape human behavior, ABA can be applied to any human. Primarily, ABA is used to teach children with Autism Spectrum disorders and other developmental delays. ABA has also been used in business offices to improve work production amongst employees.
Where does ABA therapy begin? What does the evaluation look like?
In the next part of our series on ABA therapy, I will go into greater detail on the many components of the ABA evaluation. In summary here, an assessment entitled, “The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills” in conducted through both parent interview and direct examination with the child. In addition, in many cases, a sensory profile is conducted to determine sensory integration needs to incorporate a sensory diet. A comprehensive review of the school IEP, reports from other professionals such as speech and occupational therapists, and relevant physician reports are reviewed and incorporated as well.
How does ABA teach new skills and how does it differ from any other instruction?
In ABA therapy, each skill is broken down into sub-component parts and each part is systematically taught with a formal prompting procedure and reinforcement plan. Each skill provides the foundation for the next skill in the series. For example, in teaching a child the skill of “categories,” the sequence would look like this:
- Match categories in a field of three different categories
- In a field of three, select, “Give me the ‘animal’”
- In a fill in phrase, say, “A cow is an ____”
- Say, “A cow, duck, fish, pig, and cat are all _________”
- In a field of three different categories, ask, “Tell me an animal.”
- With no visuals present, ask, “Tell me an animal.”
- With no visuals present, say, “Can you tell me some animals.”
It uses the principles of behavior to teach skills.
ABA differs from other teaching methods in the systematic way that each skill is broken down into it’s sub-component parts. At each step, if the child is unable to response within a specified amount of time, the response is prompted using a specific “least intrusive” prompt to promote learning. Visual schedules and reinforcement charts are used to provide structure, show the child what to expect, and positively reinforce appropriate behavior.
Next week we will continue delving into the topic of ABA therapy by going more in depth into the various components of the ABA evaluation, exactly what the evaluation entails, and what parents can expect when the behavior analyst walks through the door.
For more about Applied Behavior Analysis, ABA, check out these posts: