Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapy

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), is a set of principles that form the basis for many behavioural treatments which is based on the science of learning and behaviour. It has been used by psychologist to teach communication, play, social, academic, self- care, community living skills and to reduce problem behaviours in learners with autism. ABA is considered as evidence based “best practice” i.e. it has been approved as a useful and effective practice by the US Surgeon General and by the American Psychological Association.

ABA method uses the following three steps to teach:

What are the types of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)?

1. Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) is based in the principle that practice helps the child master a skill.  This involves teaching individual skills one at a time and making use of repeated teaching trials in a hierarchical manner by using techniques like changing, shaping and fading and a systematic reinforcement system that needs to be put in place. It also requires continuous monitoring of the progress and generalizing the appropriate learnt behaviour to a progressively less structured and more natural environment.
2. Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is an intervention that relies on naturally occurring teaching opportunities and consequences. It is used to teach language, decrease disruptive or self-stimulatory behaviour and to increase social, communication and academic skills by focusing on critical or pivotal behaviours that affect a wide range of behaviours. The goal of PRT is to produce positive changes in the pivotal behaviours, leading to improvement in communication skills, play skills and social behaviours.
   Four essential areas have been identified:
   1. Motivation
   2. Child self-initiations
   3. Self management, and
   4. Responsiveness to multiple cues.
      It is believed that when these areas are promoted, they produce improvements in many of the non-targeted behaviors.
3. Verbal Behaviour (VB): This is a form of behaviour therapy which is designed to motivate a child to learn language by developing a connection between a word and its meaning. It is used to teach a child how to make functional use of words.
4. Training and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH): The TEACCH approach includes a focus on the person with autism and the development of a program around the person’s skills, interest, and needs. Young children may sit at a work station and be required to complete certain activities, such as matching pictures or letters. The sessions are well programmed and focus on functional communication, vocational and independence training, community – based instructions and leisure and social training.
5. Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI): As the name suggests this is a pre-school home based programme designed for children with autism aged 2 to 6 years. This method involves in breaking the behaviours down into sub-categories and teaching each sub-category through repetitions, positive reinforcements and prompts which are gradually reduced to removed from the child’s programme.

What are the ABA therapy sessions like and what is the success rate?

ABA sessions are usually 2 to 3 hours long with short periods of structured time devoted to a task. The duration and type of sessions change according, to the needs and functioning of the learner. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a form of behavioral therapy that is popular. This therapy has a 47% success rate.

What are the benefits of ABA sessions?

Below listed are a few benefits of undergoing ABA therapy:

• It reduces undesirable behaviours.
• It helps increases the motivation levels in the child.
• It promotes learning.
• It encourages generalization of skills.
• It encourages social interaction and developing social skills.
• It promotes functional communication.