If you are the parent of an individual with autism, it’s likely you’ve heard of ABA or applied behavioral analysis. Attitudes surrounding ABA are often shrouded in mystery, fear, or genuine negativity fed by misunderstanding. That being said, ABA can be a fantastic option for helping improve the quality of life for an individual with autism. With that in mind, you might be wondering what the proper definition of ABA is and who or what is it used for?

Not just for autism

ABA therapy, although it is widely used as a therapy to benefit individuals with autism, can be used on anyone. From individuals who are having a tough time dealing with loss to individuals who need to stop biting their fingernails, the concepts of ABA are for everyone.

What it is

ABA is a therapy solution that seeks to change the behavior or behaviors of the individual it benefits, assisting in them completing a task, working towards an overall good, or decreasing aggression.

If an individual expressing behavior that is impeding on their daily life, an individual who is a licensed ABA professional takes the following actions to start working on ABA.

Behavior is observed

A lot of therapists oftentimes like to see the behavior that needs modification in practice.

Behavior is identified

The behaviorist determines what the behavior is. It can be an action that the individual performs or a vocalization.

Behavior is analyzed

According to ABA therapist, Angela Craven, there are four functions of behavior that ABA therapists look at when analyzing behavior. They are as follows:

• Attention seeking
  
• Get the individual’s needs met
  
• Escape a situation
  
• Automatic response
  

The circumstances, external factors, and internal factors surrounding the behavior are taken into consideration, allowing for greater clarity into the causation of a presented behavior. This is where the therapist determines if the behavior is truly destructive or simply unsightly.

Behaviorists also consider the antecedent of the situation, the behavior itself, and the consequence of the behavior.

The therapist determines a systematic approach to ceasing or changing the behavior.

Choosing what kind of approach to helping the individual move past their behavior is called the behavioral plan. Many times, ABA is characterized by incentive-based behavioral plans. These plans often include goals that work towards tangible and measurable results. Some of these behavioral plans may require up to 20-40 hours per week of one-on-one therapy.

These behavior plans often must be implemented by parents and caregivers on a regular basis in order to take effect.

What it can be used for

ABA is used to help individuals to behaviors necessary to help them in bettering their quality of life and interactions with their environments. It can be used to improve the following:

• Social skills
  
• Reading
  
• Chores
  
• General care of hygiene
  
• Behavioral challenges
  
• Self-harming behaviors
  
• Aggressive behaviors
  

Through ABA, many individuals achieve a greater quality of life and lessen caregiver burden.

Don’t fear it!

ABA is a great way to ensure that your child is interacting in their environment in a quality manner.  Some parents fear ABA because of how thorough or seemingly intense it is. Some kiddos, especially the younger ones, might express their distaste for task completion by crying or throwing a tantrum. That happens, but if you and your therapist are persistent in the therapy, the results will pay off.