WHAT IS ABA THERAPY?

Applied behavior analysis (ABA), is an applied science that utilizes evidence based practices and interventions with the primary focus of increasing socially significant behaviors. The field of ABA continues to grow and further research strategies and interventions to ensure they are effective, safe, and ethical.

ABA services can be beneficial for children and individuals with Autism, developmental disabilities, ADHD, learning disabilities, other behavior disorders, and neurotypical children with interfering behavioral concerns.

ABA therapy can be used to increase positive behaviors while reducing maladaptive behaviors such as tantrums, aggressive behaviors, dangerous behaviors, and self-injurious behaviors. ABA therapy also focuses on teaching and strengthening skills related to language and communication, independent living, daily living, and socialization with peers. Our aim is to nurture functional living, self-advocacy and independence, for all of our clients.

With ABA therapy, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will conduct an initial assessment, which is known as a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) . Based on this assessment, the BCBA will then create an individualized treatment plan for your child. Under the supervision of a BCBA, the treatment plan is implemented by a qualified and trained behavior technician, who will work one on one with your child. The treatment plan is updated and modified as needed as your child progresses.

Applied behavior analysis therapy uses evidence based and data driven behavior analytic strategies and interventions that are proven to be beneficial for reducing maladaptive behaviors and increasing skill acquisition.

Below are some common ABA Strategies that can be utilized. Of course, these tools are customized to your

specific needs and contain only brief descriptions. The details and approach of each strategy

will be discussed in depth upon assessment and consultation.

Positive Reinforcement: This is one of the three principles of behavior and one of the most heavily used and highly effective interventions when it comes to behavior modification and skill acquisition.

Antecedent Interventions: These are used to proactively create an environment where a desired behavior is more likely to occur and an undesired behavior is less likely to occur. These are used in conjunction with other interventions.

Antecedent Strategies: These strategies are similar to antecedent interventions but with a slightly different approach. These are also used to proactively create an environment that promotes desired behaviors to increase and reduces the occurrence of undesired behaviors.

Shaping: A teaching strategy that breaks a skill down into smaller goals that are taught one by one and compounded together until the final goal is reached.

Prompts and Prompt Fading: Prompting strategies are used to teach and guide a child to the correct response. There are various prompting techniques we utilize that can be used to teach a new skill and achieve a desired outcome.

Task Analysis: This is the highly effective process of breaking a larger skill down into smaller components that are then taught as a behavioral chain.

Discrete Trial Teaching: DTT is a teaching strategy that is highly structured, characterized by one on one teaching where a skill is broken down into smaller components

Natural Environment Teaching: Natural Environment teaching (NET) is another teaching strategy that teaches new skills using the child's natural environment.

Extinction: This is another one of the three principles of behavior! This strategy is used to decrease maladaptive behaviors by no longer providing reinforcement for that behavior.

Differential Reinforcement: This technique is used alongside extinction strategy. When an undesired behavior is put on extinction, an appropriate replacement behavior is reinforced instead. This is highly effective for behavioral modification.

Generalization: With ABA therapy, once a skill has been taught, we must ensure the skill has been generalized before we can say the desired goal is met. A skill can be generalized between settings, people, and behaviors