What is applied behaviour analysis (ABA) training?

Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) training is one of the most widely accepted autism therapies.

Many children with autism and related disorders exhibit unwanted behaviours. These include such behaviours as head-banging or slapping others. For parents and other childminders, trying to reduce these behaviours can be difficult and frustrating. In fact, efforts at discouragement often end up making the behaviours more frequent.

ABA is based on the idea that people are more likely to engage in repeated behaviours that are rewarded than in behaviours that are not recognised or are ignored. Since the 1960s, researchers have recognised that ABA can help children with autism. ABA does this by helping them develop a number of skill sets at the same time it reduces the likelihood of their engaging in problematic behaviours.

How does applied behaviour analysis work?

Applied behaviour analysis training is usually conducted by a highly trained therapist. The therapist spends 20 to 40 hours per week working one-on-one with a child. All children with autism are unique and have specific learning needs. Consequently, the therapist will develop an applied behaviour analysis program tailored specifically to a child.

The treatment begins with an assessment by the therapist. The purpose of the assessment is to determine which skills the child already possesses and where the child has deficits. The therapist next develops an ABA program aimed at increasing the child's skills in many areas. The program will likely include goals related to:

• Academic development
• Communication skills
• Social skills

After identifying the goals, the therapist creates a series of steps to help the child reach these goals. The ABA therapist can employ a number of different procedures to teach the child with autism a given skill.

One commonly used procedure is discrete trial training. The therapist presents the child with a cue. The child then has the opportunity to respond. If the child responds appropriately, the behaviour is rewarded. The specific reward is something the child enjoys in order to motivate the child to exhibit the desired behaviour.

Admittedly, the world is not as simple as discrete trial training might make it seem. So applied behaviour analysis programs include a number of other training procedures. These are used to teach the child to generalise the skills being learned to a number of different settings. Procedures might include incidental teaching of skills throughout the day and task analysis. With these procedures, children with autism learn to perform multiple steps to accomplish specific tasks.

Is applied behaviour analysis (ABA) training right for my child and me?

ABA training is most effective if therapy begins when children are younger than five years old. But older children with autism can also benefit.

To get the most benefit from applied behaviour analysis, your child will need extensive one-on-one therapy for many hours each week. That can be expensive. ABA training will also be most effective if you obtain training in ABA yourself. That way, you can teach your child and reinforce positive behaviours all the time. This will help your child generalise the skills being learned. It will help you minimise the likelihood that your child will engage in unhealthy or negative behaviours.