About ABA

ABOUT ABA

What is ABA?
ABA = Applied Behavior Analysis.

Surgeon General Mental Health:

An Excerpt of a Report of the Surgeon General (1999)
Chapter 3

Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior. A well-designed study of a psychosocial intervention was carried out by Lovaas and colleagues (Lovaas 1987:McEachin et al., 1993). Nineteen children with autism were treated intensively with behavior therapy for 2 years and compared with two contra groups. Follow-up of the experimental group in first grade, in late childhood and in early adolescence found that nearly half the experimental group but almost none of the children in the matched control group were able to participate in regular schooling. Up to this point, a number of other research groups have provided at least a partial replication of the Lovaas model (see Rogers, 1998).

ABA is a methodology whereby behavioral principles are applied to learning and performance. The “Applied” indicates using the research in real life. “Behavior” refers to a reaction to an event in the environment. “Analysis” refers to reviewing the application and determining whether or not it was effective in achieving the end result.

ABA takes scientific principles of behavior and uses them to build socially useful repertoires and reduce problematic behaviors.

ABA for autism focuses on teaching small, measurable units of behavior systematically. Each step is taught (often in a one-on-one environment) by presenting a specific cue or instruction and adding a prompt if needed. Appropriate responses are followed by consequences involving reinforcement. A high-priority goal is to make learning fun for the child. Teaching the skills requires repetition of teaching throughout the teaching session and over days.

Criteria is determined to establish mastery of a skill (for example – 80% accuracy for 3 consecutive days). Once mastered, a skill goes on to a maintenance schedule.

To ensure success, skills are also practiced and reinforced in less structured situations. The overall emphasis of ABA is on teaching skills in as natural an environment in which the child can successfully learn.

Our goal is for the child to then become included in a typical classroom.

This information was summarized based on the information in the Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism, Edited by Catherine Maurice.

For further information, please refer to our resources list.