What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based treatment often recommended to treat some of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Over the last several decades, ABA has emerged as one of the best and most sought after treatments for autism and related diagnoses, although the principles of ABA are widely applicable to other diagnoses and human behavior, in general.
ABA therapy is based on learning principles pioneered by researchers such as Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner. Through his research, Skinner hypothesized that if you want to change behavior, alter the environment. This includes changing what happens before behavior occurs (i.e., the antecedent conditions) as well as what happens after the behavior occurs (i.e., the consequence).
Today, ABA has evolved into a therapy based on the science of behavior, with a focus on socially-significant behavior change. BY socially-significant behavior change, we mean changes that are important to the individual and will help them gain independence and access learning and recreational activities in their community.
One of the hallmarks of ABA therapy is direct observation of behavior and creating individualized treatment plans for each client. Below are some examples of strategies used during ABA therapy:
Reinforcement – Rewarding specific, positive and wanted behavior with preferable consequences, which will increase the probability of the reoccurrence of these wanted behaviors. This can include offering an item or activity a person likes or removing something they don’t like when they engage in a specific behavior.
Shaping- Procedures used to help gradually modify an existing behavior so that it is more efficient. For example, if working with a client with limited play skills, a behavior analyst might first reinforce touching a toy, then holding the toy, then pressing buttons to make it light up and make sounds, and so on.
Functional behavioral assessment (FBA)- FBAs describe procedures aimed at understanding the conditions under which a specific behavior occurs. Once a behavior analyst determines the reasons why a behavior occurs, they can develop the most appropriate intervention for it. Basing interventions on the results of FBAs helps increase the chance that an intervention will be effective.
Measurement – For every intervention in ABA, measurement of behavior is crucial for success. Some types of measurement used in ABA are: rate, frequency, latency, topography, and duration. In addition to these methods, behavior analysts use special graphing procedures to illustrate data collected and use those representations to inform their decision-making.
ABA is a unique treatment option mainly because it is founded on a type of science and has philosophical underpinnings similar to many other sciences. To this extent, it is highly researched, evidence-based, and effective, which is what makes it in high demand for individuals on the autism spectrum.