Why ABA?Should I use ABA for my child with

autism or other developmental disability?

Table of Contents

• What is ABA– What ABA is not– ABA process

Quiz # 1• ABA and Behavior

– Typical behavior of autistic child– Verbal behavior

Quiz # 2 • Conclusions: Outcomes for children• Answer Key • Bibliography

What is ABA?

ABA stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis and is based on the works of B.F. Skinner.

Intensive 1 on 1 therapy.

A treatment for autism that identifies skill deficits then breaks each skill into its smallest manageable unit. Goals are make for each specific behavior. The skills are then expanded into larger, more significant units.

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What ABA is not.

It is not just for children with autism. ABA has helped children with Rhett’s, down syndrome, and many other developmental disabilities.

It is not discrete trial training, although it does use techniques from discrete trial training

It is not speech therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy; though recommendations from these professionals can be incorporated into the ABA therapy.

ABA is not a means of teaching children using any physical punishment. ABA concentrates on reinforcement.

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ABA process

• Direct observation- test all behaviors through personal experience

• Rigorous data collection- notice patterns and strengths in child’s learning

• Reinforcement- Find what motivates each child and use to shape behavior

• Stimulus control- use prompting, extinction, and fading to encourage appropriate behaviors and aide in learning.

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Quiz #1

1) What does ABA stand for?a) Applied Behavioral Analysisb) Analytic Behavior Accountingc) Assertive Behavior Analyzing

2) ABA is therapy for:a) kids who want to go into businessb) only for autistic childrenc) for children with development disabilities

3) What does ABA use to teach children?a) time outs

b) physical punishmentc) reinforcement

4) ABA therapists can pick up on behavior patterns through:a) asking the parentsb) taping therapy sessionsc) rigorous data collection

5) ABA goals are made for:a) each specific behaviorb) categories of behaviorc) the ease of the therapist

Answer Key

ABA and Behavior

Behavior is anything a person does that can be observed and measured.

ABA uses the pattern of antecedents, behavior, and consequence (the ABC’s) to help children predict outcomes and control behavior.

ABA uses natural environment training to help generalize behaviors across different environments.

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Typical Behavior of an Autistic Child

These are just some of the behaviors a child with autism may exhibit that ABA can focus on.

• Poor or no speech• Lack of eye contact• Self stimulating Behavior (flapping arms, repetitive noises, etc.)• Sensitivity to sounds and textures• Physical aggression• Strong desire to follow patterns in behavior and interactions• Toe-walking• Repetitive Behavior• Self-injurious behavior• Does not respond (acts like they are deaf)

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Verbal Behavior

• Behavior that involves communication and conveying information

• Includes both vocal and non-vocal communication (sign language, speech, communication device, gestures)

• Skinners 4 categories of verbal behavior:– Echoic – imitation– Mand – request/demand– Tact – labeling– Intraverbal – conversational.

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Quiz #21) Behavior is anything a person does that can be:

a) annoying and noisyb) observed and measuredc) felt and seen

2) Which is not a typical behavior of an autistic child.a) above average math skillsb) toe walkingc) lack of eye contact

3) Conversational behavior is known as:a) Echoicb) Intraverbalc) Mand

4) The ABC’s stand for _____, behavior, and consequence.a) antecedentb) actionc) arrangement

5) Children with autism may seem to be:a) blindb) dizzyc) deaf

Answer key

Conclusion- Outcomes

• Children with autism who receive early, intensive, intervention consistently out pace their autistic peers who do not receive such therapy. The most famous, consistently replicated study is Lovaas’ “Behavioral Treatment and Normal Educational and Intellectual Functioning in Young Autistic Children”

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Answer KeyQuiz 1

1) A) Applied Behavioral Analysis2) C) Children with developmental disabilities3) C) Reinforcement4) C) Rigorous data collection5) A) Each specific behavior

Return to ABA and behavior

Quiz 26) B) Observed and measured7) A) Above average math skills8) B) Intraverbal9) A) Antecedent10) C) Deaf

If you scored 8/10 Congratulations! Press button to move on.

If you scored less than 8/10 Uh-Oh. Press button to try again.

Bibliography

Buchanan, S.M., & Weiss, M.J. (2006) Applied Behavioral Analysis and Autism: an introduction. Ewing, NJ: New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community.

Lovaas, O.I. (1987) Behavioral Treatment and Normal Educational and Intellectual Functioning in Young Autistic Children [Electronic version]. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 3-9.

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My A-ha moments

• I never made a power point presentation using hyperlinks. I found the highlighting and selection process very simple and useful

• As I made my presentation 2 slides were out of order at first I thought I would have to delete them to rearrange them then I found the slide sorter. All I had to do was click and drag the slides to their correct placement.

• I was able to make a sunshine smiley face button and a sad face button for my answer key page. I was unaware that I could make a button by using a picture and the hyperlink button.