What is Applied Behaviour Analysis?
Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA is a therapy given to children
who engage in challenging behavior or have delays in reaching
their developmental milestones. The therapy is evidence-based
and proven to work and can be modified as per child’s specific
needs & interests. It’s delivered in one-on-one sessions.
What problem does ABA solve?
We need to understand that children don’t engage in challenging
behaviours deliberately. There are certain skills missing in the
child which helps him to communicate or cope with the situation.
The children who have developmental delays in the areas of
language & speech, social skills, imitation skills, play skills,
etc, problem behaviour becomes their only channel to express
their unmet needs because they only rely on behaviours which
were previously reinforced. ABA looks after these particular
areas of growth. It teaches the child corrective behaviour as
well as teaches them daily living skills. Developmentally, every
child is different, hence the therapy is designed catering to
his/her specific needs.
ABA helps in improving skills
- Teaches daily living skills
- Improves language & communication
- Increases play skills and helps the child socialize
- Cognitive development
- Strengthening visual perceptual skills
- Reduces problem behaviours
- Boosts academic skills
ABA Is Evidence Based!
The American Psychological Association (APA) considers Applied
Behaviour Analysis as an evidence-based practice. ABA is the
only therapy that receives reimbursement by insurance companies
in the United States for paediatric behavioural disorders. Apart
from the USA, it is the standard of care in Canada, Australia
and the Middle East. Multiple studies on the effectiveness of
ABA have shown significant improvements in daily living skills,
increase in communication & language, play skills,
socialization, and growth in academic skills among children.
ABA involves parents equally
The biggest benefit of Applied Behavior Analysis is that parents
can also take training to manage their child’s behavior.
Whatever skills that are taught to the child in a center;
parents can implement those practices at home. If parents face
any difficulty, they can consult their behavior analyst or
supervisor in a bi-weekly session.
What are the fundamental principles of Applied Behavior
Analysis?
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● Behavior is strengthened (reinforced) and weakened
(punished) through consequences that occur directly after
the behavior.
-
● Behaviors can be "extinguished" by withholding
reinforcement for behaviors that were previously reinforced.
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● All behavior occurs for a reason. There are four potential
functions of behavior-escape/avoidance,
attention/connection, access to tangibles, and automatic
reinforcement (sensory).
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● Behaviors targeted must be observable and measurable.
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● Modifying environmental variables (antecedents and
consequences) can increase or decrease the likelihood of
target behaviors.
What are the techniques and Methods used?
Applied Behavior Analysis encompasses a wide range of
techniques and methods. Some clinicians are trained and
experienced in specific methodologies. Others are trained
across multiple practices and individualized care based on the
needs of their learners.
- ● Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
-
Discrete-trial training (DTT) is a common teaching strategy
used in
Applied Behavior Analysis
therapy sessions. DTT is a structured method for teaching
new skills. In DTT, one skill is focused on at a time. Each
skill is taught individually, with a discrete beginning and
end for each learning opportunity. DTT consists of an
instruction, followed by the response, immediately followed
by a consequence of reinforcement or correction. DTT
requires a considerable amount of repetition until targeted
skills are mastered.
- ● Incidental Teaching
-
Incidental teaching is a method of providing instruction
within a child’s natural environment. Incidental teaching
uses a child’s natural interests and motivation to target
learning opportunities. While DTT is therapist-led,
Incidental teaching is a child-led method of instruction.
- ● Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)
-
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is a method built on
Applied Behavior Analysis
principles that is similar to incidental teaching but with
more structure and repetition. The goal of PRT is to target
pivotal areas in a child’s development, such as motivation,
responding to multiple cues, self-management, and
self-initiation. PRT uses a child’s natural motivation and
interests and builds on these while teaching vital life
skills. Communication, language, play, and social skills are
key areas of focus in PRT.
- ● Verbal Behavior Approach (VB)
-
The verbal behavior approach can be used with all ages,
though is commonly used with toddlers and preschoolers who
are rapidly acquiring language. Therapists trained in the
verbal behavior approach teach children to use language
based on the function or meaning behind the word. In the
verbal behavior approach, children are taught to mand
(request), tact (label), respond to receptive instructions,
imitate actions, intra verbally communicate, and more.
Common Techniques in ABA
- Common Techniques in ABA
-
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is most commonly used with
children with autism and other neurodevelopmental
challenges. Through Applied Behavior Analysis, these
children develop language and communication skills, social
skills, improve focus, learn academic skills, reduce
interfering behaviors, and more. Other applications of
Applied Behavior Analysis include education, clinical
behavior analysis, sports and fitness, parent training and
behavioral pediatrics.
There are a number of common techniques used in Applied
Behavior Analysis. Let’s review a few commonly used behavioral
techniques.
- ● Positive reinforcement:
-
At the heart of behavior change is
positive reinforcement
. By adding something valuable after a desired behavior, the
behavior is more likely to occur again in the future.
Positive reinforcement is embedded throughout Applied
Behavior Analysis sessions to increase socially significant
behaviors.
- ● Shaping
-
By reinforcing successive approximations toward an end goal,
target behavior is shaped. Behavior change does not happen
overnight. Through shaping, you’ll see small progress
towards the optimal goal.
- ● Functional communication training (FCT)
-
FCT is a process of identifying the function of a learner’s
interfering behavior and implementing functional ways of
communicating their needs. If a child, for example, hits
others to gain their attention, FCT would work by teaching
and reinforcing alternative ways of communicating their
desire for someone’s attention.